2007年9月，英国德文郡（Devon）托贝区（Torbay）成为了欧洲地质公园网络（EGN）的第32位成员。托贝地质公园就是大家熟知的里维耶拉地质公园（ERG）。里维耶拉地质公园拥有陆地面积62平方公里，海域面积42平方公里，人口134,000，具有浓烈的城市特色。
自从2003年申请加入EGN以来，托贝区一直在朝这个目标努力。当时，托贝区就可以向世人证明它正在其社区和教育发展框架中使用它的地质遗迹及其相对丰富的文化遗迹。托贝区还利用它的遗迹进行旅游宣传与推广，而建立地质公园却是所有托贝区经济重建战略计划中的重要组成部分。
里维耶拉地质公园所在区域有着从泥盆纪暗礁到更新世尸骨洞丰富且暴露充分的地质遗迹。这里的地质地貌不仅与托贝而且还与对泥盆纪时期初始特征形成非常重要的地区的科学文化史密切相关。
托贝区是英国地质保护区最集中的地区之一，拥有11个国家级保护区（“SSSIs”）和15个地区级重要区（“RIGS”）。托贝区专门设立一个机构直接负责管理大部分保护区，而且还承担与托贝区自然遗产可持续利用有关的一些教育与社区职责。
一流的地质资源，完备而成熟的旅游基础设施，与公众、私人企业和志愿性部门保持发展良好的合作关系的创新保护信托组织共同确保了英国里维耶拉地质公园在世界地质公园网络里沿着充满活力的成功之路前行。
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark is situated within the stunning, rolling hills on the south coast of Devon, southern England.
Unique in Western Europe, the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark is geologically renowned for its 350-400 million year old Marine Devonian limestones which are of great historical importance. The rich faunas yielded by these rocks were used, in part, to characterize the original Devonian System of the pioneering geologists Sedgwick and Murchison which was named after Devon the county within which the Geopark is situated. In addition, excellent exposures of classic desert sandstone and breccia in the 300-250 million years old Permian "Red Bed" sequences are recorded. The limestones themselves also include important Quaternary karstic features such as Kents Cavern. Pengelly's excavations of the caves in the nineteenth century influenced public opinion worldwide as to the antiquity of man.
Encompassing the entire area of Torbay, including the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham the boundary of the UNESCO Global Geopark follows that of Torbay Council Unitary boundary, covering 62.4 km2 land and 41.5 km2 marine area. With a population of 138,000 residents the terrestrial area is mainly urban or sub-urban however the beautiful coastline, which fundamentally links the rich diversity of landscape with wildlife, people and culture has lead to the development of tourism being the dominant industry. The area has also influenced the work of Agatha Christie, the famous crime writer who was born in Torquay.
A network of Visitor Centres celebrate the links between the geological heritage and all other aspects of the area’s natural, cultural heritage from the rare limestone grasslands, bird colony and Napoleonic Forts at Berry Head to the history of early man at Kents Cavern. Educational activities and events are run all year by a range of UNESCO Global Geopark partners including amongst others Kents Cavern, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, and the museums in Brixham and Torquay. In addition, educational enquiries, based on the geological stories of the Geopark have been developed with resources and materials for teachers, for Key Stages 1(age 5 to7), 2 (age 7 to 11) and 3 (age 11 -14). The Geopark also features within the new Collins Key Stage 3 National Curriculum text book on Geographical Enquiries. The Paignton Geoplay Park provides fun for families whilst for the more adventurous new company Geopark Adventures runs the Geopark Multi-Sport Event Series and Geopark Partner Reach Outdoors runs outdoor adventure activities.
