The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) was established in 2004, with the support of UNESCO, incorporating the definition already worked out by the European Geoparks Network. It embraced 8 Chinese geoparks and the 17 European existing at the time. Currently, the Global Geoparks Network includes 87 Geoparks across 27 countries worldwide.
The Global Geoparks Network members are evaluated every four years. If they do not fulfill the required criteria, they have two years to ensure the maintenance of accepted standards, being removed from the Network if the problems remain unresolved.
