Τhe Petrified Forest is a founding member of the European Geoparks Network and since 2004 a member of the Global Geoparks Network of UNESCO.
The European Geoparks Network was established in June 2000 by four areas with exceptional geological and natural monuments.
The Founding members are the:
- Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest ( Greece )
- Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence ( France )
- Geopark Gerolstein / Vulkaneifel ( Germany )
- Maestrazgo Cultural Park ( Spain )
Aim of the Network is cooperation, exchange of good practices and experiences, joint actions for the protection of the geological heritage, development and promotion of natural geological monuments.
The capstone for the innovation of Geoparks is the support from UNESCO and their promotion through its programs worldwide. The Global Geoparks Network under the auspices of UNESCO was established in 2004 to preserve and promote the geological heritage of the Geoparks and highlight the particular importance of the Geoparks as bodies for the education of young people, the popularization of geosciences and the development of geotourism in global level .
In 2001 the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest was awarded the Eurosite management award, for the promotion and management of the Petrified Forest .
In 2008 the Natural History Museum won the First Prize at the International Competition World Ecotourism International Association of Tourism Professionals SKAL INTERNATIONAL, in the category “Ecotouristic destination.”
In 2008 the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest received the “Let’s Go 2008 Recommends” price from the “Let’s Go” publisher, in recognition of the quality of services offered to its visitors.
In 2009 Lesvos island and the Petrified Forest proclaimed as a top tourist destination in Greece within the European project “European Destinations of Excellence” (EDEN) – ” European Destinations of Excellence ” .
In 2014 the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest received the certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor , for providing quality services to its guests.