The first International Symposium on Development within Geoparks took place from May 15-18, in Jiaozuo, central China's Henan Province.

 

Revolving around the theme of "Science and Management," the meeting attracted more than 200 experts and representatives from 71 geoparks in 15 countries and regions, including Belgium, the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Viet Nam.

 

The event, jointly sponsored by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), Jiaozuo city government, the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the Geological Society of China, and the China National Committee of the International Geoscience Program, displayed various achievements of international geoparks in park construction, and research and protection of geological heritage.

 

During the four-day seminar, senior government officials and renowned experts delivered speeches on geological science popularization, ecological protection and geological tourism within geoparks, as well as speeches on the development of potential areas for geopark establishment, and the role of international communication and organizations in the construction of geoparks.

 

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Dawei, vice-governor of Henan Province, summarized the importance of geoparks in boosting local economic development by using the Yuntai Mountain World Geopark in Jiaozuo as an example.

 

Ever since its launch in 2001, the Yuntai Mountain Geopark has seen the annual number of visitors rise from 510,000 in the first year to 8.05 million last year, Zhang said.

 

He said the city's total revenue from tourism and related sectors reached 4.7 billion yuan (US$587.5 million) in 2005, contributing 8.3 percent to its gross domestic product growth.

 

Eyeing this symposium as a good opportunity, Henan Province will further improve the construction and management of its geoparks, Zhang added.

 

Zhang Hongren, chairman of IUGS, pointed out that the Yuntai Mountain Geopark had set a successful example in park construction, as it has entered a beneficial cycle of development, a common feature of outstanding geoparks in the world.

 

He said well-developed geoparks have attracted the investment of prominent enterprises from home and abroad, which injects new energy into local economic growth.

 

At the same time, local governments use part of the income derived from the operation of geoparks to encourage greater protection of geological heritage and promote the research of geosciences. Through all these efforts, public awareness about protecting geological heritage and geological ecology and environment has been enhanced, and local residents' geoscience knowledge has been strengthened.

 

China is also expected to use foreign experiences as references to keep the development of geoparks on the right track, said Wang Shouxiang, a senior official from the Ministry of Land and Resources, at the opening ceremony.

 

"And this symposium has set a good platform for it," Wang said.

 

Statistics show that China, as one of the earliest countries advocating the establishment of geoparks, has set up 138 national geoparks, with 12 of them having a world geopark title.

 

(China Daily May 26, 2006)