EXPLORING SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ABOUT UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS (2002-2023)

This article aims to analyze the landscape of international publications on UNESCO Global Geoparks from 2002 to 2023. The method used is bibliometric analysis, with data sourced from the Scopus database. Data analysis was conducted using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer tools. The results revealed the existence of 340 documents, indicating considerable interest in the topic. The research identified Indonesia and China as leading countries in publications, with prominent authors such as Zouros, Farsani, Sá, Gray, Ruban, and Brilha. The predominant studies focus on themes such as sustainable local development, geotourism, and education. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) comprises 213 UNESCO Global Geoparks across 48 countries, with six of these located in Brazil—reflecting the active involvement of the public sector, local communities, and the scientific community. These findings highlight the importance of public sector commitment and the establishment of practices aimed at sustainable economic development in these regions. Future studies could explore how governance is conducted in these territories after certification, the impacts on the region, and how local residents align with the goals of UNESCO Global Geoparks.