Viet Nam Center on Karst and Geoheritage
From 8th to 14th September, 2018, at the Adamanllo Brenta Geopark, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy took place the 8th International Conference on the UNESCO Global Geopark with the theme: “Geopark and the Sustainable Development”. The conference was attended by more than 1,200 delegates from five continents, included 50 Vietnamese officials from various agencies. This is an opportunity for cultures of different countries to discuss the best way to preserve the natural environment, find a sustainable developmen strategy for the planet and mankind in the future.
Attending at this conference, There’re Assoc. Prof Tran Tan Van – Director of Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, Do Thi Yen Ngoc – Director of Viet Nam Center on Karst and Geoheritage, some others officials.
Vietnamese officials photographed at the conference, including officials from the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources
In the morning of September 12th, the official Opening Ceremony of the 8th International Conference on the UNESCO Global Geopark took place at the Madona di Campiglio Town Conference Center (Italy).
Opening Ceremony of the 8th International Conference on the UNESCO Global Geopark at Adamello Brenta Geopark, Madona di Campiglio (Italy)
After the opening ceremony, there were the sessions and discussions on the topics: (1) Geoparks, sustainable tourism and sutainable local development, (2) Education, public awareness an communication, (3) Regional and International UNESCO collaborations, (4) Aspiring Geoparks. The Vietnamese delegation had 9 presentations on different topics. The presentations showcase typical geological heritage values in geoparks of Vietnam. In particular, the officials also discussed about research activities, methods of implementation to raise public awareness, develop tourism, promote geological heritage values for sustainable development in accordance with the criteria of UNESCO Global GeoParks.
Ms. Do Thi Yen Ngoc – Director of Viet Nam Center on Karst and Geoheritage presented and discussed at the conference with the topic: Local knowledge on geological heritage – some initial research in Gia Lai geopark.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the meetings of the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Advisory Committee Meeting, the Asia Pacific Network Coordination Committee; Participants discussed issues of cooperation among geological parks in the Asia-Pacific network, agenda items and targets to reach 2030. In particular, the Chief of the Expert Committee on Global Geoparks of Vietnam, Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources – Assoc. Tran Tan Van – was invited to join the Advisory Board of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network (GGN) as well as the Global Geopark Network in Asia and the Pacific (APGN), elected Team Leader of Karst in APGN.
Asia Pacific Network Coordination Committee Meeting
The conference gave awards to scientists and managers who have contributed positively to the development of the UNESCO Global Geological Park network and the typical geological parks that have effective activities in preserving and promoting the heritage values for regional socio-economic development. The conference also announced the results of appraisal and re-appraisal of geoparks in the world. In particular, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has been awarded the Certificate of Global Geopark by UNESCO, the Dong Van rocky plateau also had the good results of re-evaluation 2018.
