CGMW story in a nutshell
The CGMW is issued from the International Geological Congress (IGC), the oldest geoscience organization in the World, created in Paris in 1878. The idea of the Commission was first postulated in 1910 at the 11th IGC in Stockholm, and established in 1913 at the 12th IGC in Toronto. It is a non-profit-making scientific and educational association governed by French law. The CGMW is affiliated to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) since 1966, and to the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). CGMW is recognized by UNESCO as a rank A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
A wide range of geoscience mapping
The CGMW is responsible for designing, promoting, coordinating, preparing and publishing small-scale thematic (geology, tectonics, ore deposits, natural resources, climate, etc.) Earth Science maps of the globe, continents, major regions, and oceans. In the context of its mission, the CGMW intends to play a leading role in the use and diffusion of digital cartographic techniques, as well as in the development of international standards.
How the work is done
The framework for constructing CGMW maps is highly flexible. The responsibility for each new cartographic project is assigned to a General Coordinator appointed by the Bureau to act as organizer and supervisor. To produce these maps, the CGMW relies on the support provided by the international scientific community and on cooperation agreements established with geological surveys, university laboratories, oceanographic institutes and industrial firms, depending on the characteristics of each project. Before their publication, all maps are submitted to the review of experts in order to ensure the best scientific quality to all CGMW releases.
Who are our members and how the Commission is managed
Geological Surveys (or similar organizations responsible for national geological mapping, for the addresses please click here) of countries and territories throughout the World are Statutory Members of the CGMW. Other scientific and/or industrial organizations can join the CGMW as Associate Members. The mapping activity is financed by the membership fees of the Surveys, IUGS and UNESCO grants and the sponsoring of industrial partners. From a legal point of view, CGMW is a non-for-profit association governed by French Law 1901 for Associations, whose statutes and statement registration are downloadable here. The modification to the Statuts voted by the 2014 General Assembly are available here.
The Executive Bureau is ensured by a President, a Secretary General and the heads of the geographic and thematic subcommissions that represent all the continents and the different disciplines of the geosciences. A score of key figures from different Earth Science fields and countries are appointed to fulfill these ad hoc positions.
General Assembly
General Assemblies are held every two years, alternately at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and during the International Geological Congress. A focal point of these meetings is to assess the aims of future programmes and the progress of current cartographic projects.
To get more information about the last GA, please click here.
The leaflet presenting our current activities is downloadable here.
CGMW Bureau
Contact & Headquarters of CGMW Secretariat General
Continental subcommissions
Africa
North and Central America
Dr M. R. St-Onge, Vice-President (Canada)
Dr R. C. Orndorff, Secretary General (United States)
South America
Mr. J. Gómez Tapias, Vice-President (Colombia)
Dr. L. M. Fraga, Secretary General (Brazil)
Antarctica
Dr G. Leitchenkov, Vice-President (Russia)
Dr. J. Jacobs, Secretary General (Norway/Germany)
South and East Asia
Dr. Z. WU, Vice-President (China)
Dr H. K. Gupta, Secretary General (India)
Dr. L. ZHAO, Deputy Secretary General (China)
Australia and Oceania
Dr. R. S. Blewett, Vice-President (Australia)
Dr. M. Jessell, Secretary General (Australia/U.K.)
Europe
Dr K. E. Asch, Vice-President (Germany)
Middle-East
Dr. A. Saidi, Vice-President (Iran)
Mrs. M. Esterabi Ashtiani, Secretary General (Iran)
Dr S. F. Fouad, Deputy Secretary General (Irak)
Northern Eurasia
Dr O. V. Petrov, Vice-President (Russia)
Dr. T. Tolmacheva, Secretary General (Russia)
Thematic Subcommissions
Tectonics
Dr. A. Khanchuk, President (Russia)
Dr. I. Pospelov, Secretary General (Russia)
Prof. C. Passchier, Deputy Secretary General (UK/Australia)
Metallogeny
Dr. M. Gozalvez, President (Argentina)
Dr. X Casanas Diaz, Secretary General (Cuba)
Magmatism and metamorphism
Prof. R. Oberhänsli, President (Germany/Switzerland)
Prof. R. Bousquet, Secretary General (Germany/France)
Natural Hazards
Dr. S. Takarada, President (Japan)
Seafloor
Dr P. Miles, President (United Kingdom)
Dr. J Escartin, Secretary General (France)
Hydrogeology
Dr. S. Broda, President (Germany)
Geophysics
Dr. M. Mandea, President (France/Romania)
Click here to download the complete list of the CGMW Bureau Members.
Mapping programs for the 2016-2018 period
Booklets & Atlas
World
Middle-East
Africa
Europe & Eurasia
Asia
Americas
Antarctica
Oceans
Tectonics
Geophysics
Metallogeny
Hydrogeology
CGMW Biennial Bulletins