At 11 o’clock on November 17 according to the local time in France, the new UNCESCO “International Geoscience and Geopark Program” and related constitutions and guidelines were officially approved on the 38th Conference of UNESCO, and all the existing world geoparks were taken into the program to be the UNESCO World Geoparks. It further showed the emphasis and resolution of the UNESCO for the protection and sustainable utilization of geological heritage of international value and significance. Meanwhile, it marked the formal birth of the new identification of “UNESCO World Geoparks”.

New UNESCO identification

As early as in 2011, the member countries of the UNESCO required that the UNESCO Conference should request the Director General to negotiate with the member countries on formalization of the advocacy for merger of the existing world geoparks and on the possibility of transforming it into the UNESCO world geopark program. Hence, related discussions had been going on continuously until the Geopark Working Team was established, which, through efforts of various parties, obtained substantial breakthrough through discussion and negotiation on seven conferences in two years. The Working Team proposed the final suggestion for establishing the international geoscience and geopark program to the 196 Conference of the UNESCO Execution Agency, which was approved. Subsequently the resolution was submitted to the 38th Conference and was finally approved.

In response to the advocacy of the UNESCO to establish the “Global Geopark Network System”, China started to apply for and establish world geoparks in 2003. In 2004, with the support of the UNESCO, the First World Geopark Conference was held in Beijing, and 17 members of European Geopark Network and eight Chinese geoparks jointly established the Global Geopark Network (GGN). By the end of October 2015, the Global Geopark Network had 120 members totally, distributed in 33 countries and regions globally. Meanwhile, through years’ practice and exploration, from establishing geological site nature reserves of simple protection to establishing geoparks led by protection with appropriate development, the national geopark undertaking of China was developed rapidly. The establishment of 186 national geoparks was approved successively, distributed in 31 provinces and municipalities and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including 33 world geoparks, stably ranking the first place in the world.

Presently, as a new way of resource utilization, geoparks have showing increasingly great comprehensive benefits in terms of protection of geological sites and ecological environment, local economic development and settlement of employment, scientific research and knowledge popularization, upgrading of the existing scenic areas and reconstruction of infrastructure, international communication and improving the quality of the whole people, fully showing the value ideas of geoparks. Making important contribution to ecological civilization construction and local culture inheritance, accumulating experience and laying a foundation for establishing the national park system, it has been the marking pole for protection of natural ecology, the model for practice of ecological civilization, the name card to show the image of China and the engine to promote international cooperation. China has gained the achievements noticeable worldwide in terms of geopark construction, developed the characteristic geopark management mode and provided beneficial experience for geopark management of other countries. The officials of the UNESCO praised that “China has played a pioneering driving role in the work of geopark construction”. In 2013, China, in cooperation with the UNESCO, held the training course on ecological site protection and geopark construction for 12 African countries, showing the role of China’s geoparks in the sustainable development strategy in local areas and greatly promoting the cooperation between China and African countries in science and technology and culture.   

With the opportunity of the Conference as a new starting point, China’s geoparks will continue to insist the priority of protection, actively improve the system, improve supervision and management, deepen and promote international cooperation and enhance and direct the public participation. In this way, we’ll bring the special advantages and international demonstration role of China’s geoparks into full play, making contribution to promoting ecological civilization construction and realizing the “beautiful China”.

It is learned that the Conference happened to be held on the 70th anniversary of the UNESCO. Heads of 18 countries attended the Head Forum held during the Conference to discuss on the future development of the UNESCO. It is a Conference attended by the largest number of state heads. The opening ceremony of the Conference was chaired by Hao Ping, Chairman of the 37th Conference and Vice President of the Ministry of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. On the Conference the next major biennial will be discussed, and the president of the Ministry of Education of each country will study and work out the route map for 2030 development agenda of the UNESCO.

Opening Ceremony of the 38th Conference

Chief Engineer Peng Qiming of the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China led a group to attend the Scientific Committee Meeting of the 38th Conference