11 Sep 2022

The 7th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium was held in Satun UNESCO Global Geopark (Thailand) during 4- 11 September 2022 in a hybrid manner, onsite and online. Totally 447 participants attended the symposium (284 onsite and 163 online). This symposium well demonstrated the resilience of Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, the resilience of APGN, and the resilience of GGN. Several activities associated with the 7th APGN Symposium took place before the opening ceremony of the symposium.

The 7th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium was officially opened on 7 September 2022. At the Opening Ceremony, the Governor of Satun Province and President of Satun UNESCOGlobal Geopark Committee, Mr. Ekkarat Leesen delivered the welcome speech. This was followed by addresses of GGN President Nickolas Zouros and APGN Coordinator Xiaochi JIN. Then, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and President of Thailand National Geopark Committee Mr.Varawut Silpa-Archa delivered an Opening Speech about the development of geoparks in Thailand.Then were folk performances of Satun Province.

The Symposium had 7 themes:

1. SDGs in Geoparks

2. Geohazards Mitigation in Geoparks

3. Geodiversity and Geoparks

4. Geoparks: “Sustainable Tourism”

5. Geoparks: “Education and Interpretation”

6. Local Wisdom and Cultural Heritage in Geoparks

7. Aspiring Geoparks.

After a short break, began 4 Keynote speeches, namely, UNESCO’s supports and contribution to the development and continuity of UNESCO Global Geoparks during and after the pandemic by Mr. Kristof Vandenberghe, Chief of Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, UNESCO; UNESCO Global Geoparks and the Global Geoparks Network: Building Sustainable Communities, by GGN President Nickolas Zouros; APGN in New Normal Period by APGN Coordinator Xiaochi JIN; and The vision and mission of UGGp youth forum for the operation of geoparks by Mr. Immanuel Deo Silalahi, Chairperson of UNESCO Global Geoparks Youth Forum. A Geo-Fair with booths of Geoparks and related organizations officially opened on the same day, and lasted through the symposium.

Sessions with these theme were convened on 7, 8 and 10 September. A total of 138 abstracts were collected in the abstracts volume. 96 participants made oral presentations. A number of participants made poster presentations.

Representative from Shilin UNESCO Global Geopark delivered a presentation, titled“Scientific Research and Science Education in Shilin UGGp”, and engaged in in-depth discussions and shared valuable experience with delegates from geoparks in Asian and Pacific region. The conference offered Shilin Geopark a valuable opportunity to reconnect and exchange with other geoparks.

（some photos are from the APGN website）