The 6th International UNESCO Conference on Global Geoparks had 474 official delegates out of over 600 participants from nearly 50 countries and territories around the world. Many countries also attended the meeting although they did not have any geoparks. This showed the growing interest of scientists, entrepreneurs, managers and policymakers in preserving and promoting heritage values and showed the growing effectiveness and credibility of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in sponsoring and developing the global geopark system.
GGN now has 111 member geoparks in 32 countries on five continents, including Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, which became a full member in 2010.
According to GGN provisions, the GGN membership status is reviewed every four years by the GGN Executive Board, based on GGN criteria and recommendations. On September 23, 2014, in Saint John City, New Brunswick, Canada, GGN officially recognised Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark as a continued GGN member. The GGN Executive Board appreciated the effort of Vietnam and of Ha Giang province for the development of the geopark and sent good wishes to Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark at the event. The GGN Executive Board also announced to add 11 new GGN members.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Sen Chin Ly, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of Propaganda and Education Department under the Provincial Party Committee and Head of Vietnam Delegation to the 6th International UNESCO Conference on Global Geoparks in Canada, said the continued recognition of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark as a GGN member is a great honour for Ha Giang province in particular and Vietnam in general. GGN also assigned us to preserve, promote and disseminate outstanding values of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark to the world.
Mr Ly expressed his sincere thanks to GGN members and the GGN Executive Board for the continued recognition of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark as GGN member. He also thanked GGN specialists and Asia - Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) for their support and guidance for preserving and promoting the values of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark. He also expressed his gratitude to the resident communities in Dong Van rock plateau for their involvement in preserving, protecting and promoting heritage values. He said to the GGN Conference that Ha Giang province is committed to implementing GGN criteria and recommendations in preserving and promoting the heritage values of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark in an effort to contribute to the overall development of GGN.”
Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark covers four districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac in Ha Giang province. The 2.356-square kilometre rock plateau is home to 17 ethnic groups with 250,000 residents. The importance of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark can be seen in the Prime Minister’s approval of the master plan for conservation, restoration and promotion of the values of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark in the 2012-2020 phase, with a vision to 2030. Besides, the Prime Minister approved the Dong Van plateau tourist site as a national tourist zone. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Provincial People's Committee of Ha Giang rated heritages and relics on the karst plateau, including 10 national relics, six national intangible cultural heritages, and 15 provincial relics. This shows the importance of developing and conserving heritage and cultural values and developing tourism.
To obtain the above results, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Committee for UNESCO, the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, the Ha Giang Provincial People's Committee, relevant agencies, domestic and international scientists stepped up the research, conservation and promotion of heritage values. Specially, Ha Giang province has made tremendous efforts and investments in all aspects to meet GGN criteria and safeguard invaluable heritage values before natural and human impacts on the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark.
The GGN’s continued recognition reaffirmed tremendous efforts of Vietnam in conservation, preservation and promotion of geological, cultural and natural heritage values of the country and of all mankind.
Thanh Nga
Vietnamese
