Social well-being and knowledge of geopark values in the settlements of Novohrad-Nógrád UNESCO Global Geopark

Areas of the Novohrad-Nógrád UNESCO Global Geopark are considered to be the most underdeveloped parts of Hungary and Slovakia from a socio-economic view. The paper provides an overview of the results of the regional development realized by the Geopark after more than ten years of operation, and whether it is reflected in the subjective well-being of the local society and its knowledge of geopark’s values. More than 260 completed questionnaires were collected among the inhabitants of the geopark settlements and 14 in-depth interviews were conducted with those who contributed to the establishment, organization, and operation of the geopark. The results based on the obtained database clearly show that local people are aware of the values of their environment, have a close relationship with the nature around them, and are proud of it, but they are typically unaware that these are also geopark values. Many people do not know that they live in a geopark area, and the proportion of those who directly benefit from the geopark's presence is minimal. The population seemed more "geopark-conscious" in the surroundings of the geopark or tourism-related investments. The information from the in-depth interviews gives reason for optimism, as geopark-related education or dissemination of knowledge is present in the area, so it can be assumed that the growing generation is more aware of their geopark environment than those interviewed in the study.