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The sustainable use of geological resources is a management task, demand and challenge. When the European Geoparks Network was founded in 2000, a new view fell on geosites, geotopes, former quarries as resource areas of rocks and energy provider. Their contribution to regional economic development during their active use has been enormous. Only few scientists identified unique scientific value for geosites or geotopes, e.g. for Messel Pit World Heritage Site, Hesse, Germany with the need for protection for and by the global community. Other scientists with far sightedness directed the view onto a new use: geotourism, education and sustainable development. Their initiative started the first geo-trails in territories called geoparks. Infrastructures were restored and directed into a new use. Not only one geo-trail was created. By the positive acceptance of the population the new infrastructure was now used for their weekend walk. Eyes were opened on the formation history of a landscape, cultural connections were identified. An amazing development followed during the last twenty years. Today UNESCO Global Geoparks have a set of trails serving a variety of topics. Their management involves different measures. Maintenance after creation, as well as up dating and marketing are challenging management tasks. A speciality is using infrastructure of former quarries as geotourism highlight for guided tours. Connecting them with visitor requirements leads to modern geotourism products. They finally result in new or larger economic income with sustainable results like new jobs, income and benefits by e.g. selling products of the region or geoproducts presented in this contribution.

Many attempts up to today exist to transfer geosciences to the general public. Some started at the beginning of the 20th century. It is surprising that only since the beginning of the 21st century with the formation of the European Geoparks Network in 2000 and the Global Geoparks Network in 2004, a new, consequent professional way of transfering geosciences was implemented. This includes information, education, geotourism, sustainable development of territories and at sites, e.g. Messel Pit World Heritage Site. These activities have opened people’s minds that landscapes are not „ugly, dirty and dead“. A starting signal was given to explain geoscientific phenomena with discovery activities, enthusiasm, passion and fun for children as well as for adults. Holistic views were initiated and not only fossil or mineral collections presented. By marketing beautiful landscapes, aesthetics of volcanos or reef limestone areas with caves, the interest of large amounts of visitors was raised. A key option however, found during about 18 years of geoscience knowledge transfer is to link up having fun within landscapes, with rocks, fossils and to enjoy a better understanding of where people live. Hands on activities have been reduced to zero during the pandemic of 2020. But why Earth is dynamic, changes landscapes and homes of people, this can be transmitted by edutainment games. An important aspect of this is geo-gamification: virtual and or by hands on, for „Generation Z“, as a key to attract students and too make people aware about the exciting planet Earth we live on.