The UNESCO Global Geopark model for sustainable development in marginalised areas: Investigating perceptions and social acceptance in a local context

UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGPs) are increasingly recognized as a strategic tool to unlock sustainable development in marginalised areas. However, its effectiveness rests on its social acceptance by local stakeholders. To maximize its impact, targeted actions are needed to enhance the perceived value of UGGPs as a development tool and align them with local priorities. This paper addresses two key research questions: 1) How do local stakeholders perceive the UGGP model as a driver for development? 2) What actions can increase its social acceptance and integration into local strategies? Using a combined SWOT-SOr analysis and Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approach, we investigate these questions through the Gargano region (Italy) case study. We found that UGGP-related initiatives are often viewed as secondary to more immediate economic concerns. However, local entrepreneurship and place-based knowledge emerge as key catalysts to bridge geoheritage conservation with tangible development outcomes. Strategic interventions, such as participatory governance, awareness campaigns, and policy integration, are essential to strengthen the UGGP’s legitimacy as a development tool. This study provides a transferable methodological framework to assess and enhance UGGP acceptance in diverse marginalised contexts. • Low social acceptability of UGGP as a development tool in marginal rural areas • Win-win strategies boost both local development and UGGP-related variables • Only Conservation, Governance, and Geology are UGGP-anchored by stakeholders • Novel FCM-SWOT-SOr framework for pre-designation social feasibility assessment • UGGP legitimacy stems from co-benefits, not top-down institutional branding