No. A UNESCO Global Geopark is not a protected area, and therefore does not equate to a National Park or Reserve.

The National Parks and Reserves These are conservation areas defined and managed by the State of Chile (CONAF) under a strict protection approach, where the territory is delimited and most economic activities are not allowed, except for regulated tourism.

In contrast, a UNESCO Global Geopark it's a territorial management model applied to a large, inhabited territory with multiple uses: agriculture, livestock farming, tourism, education, science, among others. Its objective is not to prohibit activities, but promote sustainable development based on the enhancement of geological, biological and cultural heritage.

Unlike a closed park, Geoparks operate through a participatory management, where local communities, public institutions, academia and the private sector work together to conserve the territory, strengthen local identity and promote the responsible use of the landscape.
The result is a living territory, where people are the protagonists and not external visitors.

No. Geoparks do not have a general entrance and do not function as a closed enclosure, since they cover very large territories where communities live, there are public routes, productive areas, towns, roads and also protected areas managed by other organizations.

A Geopark does not charge for "entering", because it is not a park with fenced boundaries or an area where human activities are restricted. It is a model of territorial management, where diverse actors (local communities, public institutions, academia, private sector) work together to safeguard heritage and promote sustainable development.

Having said that, Some places within the geopark may have their own fees, such as national reserves managed by CONAF or private parks. These payments do not belong to the geopark; they belong to the administrators of each specific site or service.

The goal of the geopark is not to eliminate activities, but coordinate, educate and promote good practices so that the use of the productive, tourist and cultural territory promotes the enhancement of the heritage and its communities.

No. Geoparks are not conservation entities established by Chilean law. Unlike National Parks or Reserves, they do not have their own legal framework within the country.

Instead of operating under strict protection legislation, Geoparks function through a voluntary territorial management model, internationally recognized by UNESCO and based on collaboration between local communities, public institutions, academia and the private sector.

Their conservation strategy is different:
Instead of prohibiting activities, they seek to enhance the value of natural and cultural heritage through education, science, and sustainable tourism. This approach generates a redefinition of the territory, where communities understand that they can live with y of the landscape responsibly, promoting sustainable local development that protects heritage while creating opportunities.

No. A UNESCO Global Geopark does not prohibit productive activities, including mining. Unlike a National Park or Reserve, a geopark is not a legally protected area or a strictly protected area. It is a territorial management model which coexists with diverse human activities: agriculture, livestock farming, tourism, roads, villages, and even mining when it exists in the territory.

The key is in as These activities are carried out. Geoparks work to to bring together the different actors in the territory In order to safeguard natural and cultural heritage, promote good practices and ensure that any productive activity promotes the enhancement of heritage and its communities.

UNESCO states that geological heritage of international value must be protected, and that activities within the geopark must align with sustainable development. This does not mean prohibiting industries, but coordinate, educate and promote responsible standards that allow for the compatibility of production, conservation, and community well-being.

Because this territory boasts an exceptional combination of natural and cultural treasures found nowhere else in the country. Here, active volcanic complexes like Laguna del Maule coexist with unique ignimbrite plateaus such as El Enladrillado, relict glaciers, high-altitude Andean lakes, and internationally significant volcanic formations. This geological wealth is complemented by a singular biodiversity, marked by the transition between Mediterranean and temperate rainforest ecosystems, along with a profound cultural heritage that ranges from ancient human settlements to the enduring tradition of muleteering.

The UNESCO Global Geopark model allows manage this territory sustainably, By integrating science, education, responsible tourism, and the participation of its inhabitants, the geopark offers a concrete response in a context of increasing human pressure (unregulated tourism, erosion of heritage, lack of environmental education). to organize, conserve, enhance and generate real opportunities for local communities without excluding them from the territory.

In short, creating a Geopark in the Maule Andes means protecting a unique heritage, improving land management, and building sustainable development based on identity, knowledge, and collaboration.