A group of international geological experts and government officials called in Beijing on Tuesday for measures to be taken to protect geological heritage on the earth, in a bid to guarantee sustainable development for future generations of all countries.

They made the call in the Beijing Declaration on the Protection of the Geological Heritage of the World, adopted at the closing ceremony of the First International Conference on Geoparks held in Beijing from June 27 to 29.

"The time has come to intensify the global efforts to safeguard and promote geological heritage," says the Declaration, offering two key ways to protect geological heritage.

One is to establish geological nature reserves, it says, and the second is to identify and secure areas as geoparks, following the definition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"Any action that will lead to damage of the geological heritage should be avoided, including the illicit trade in fossils or minerals," notes the Declaration.

Meanwhile, it calls for enhancing international cooperation in the field of geological heritage conservation and geoparks.

China's Vice Minister of Land and Resources Shou Jiahua described the conference as "a pioneering work" and "having a far-reaching significance" for the world geological circles on the protection of geological heritage, on the popularization of geological knowledge, and on the promotion of sustainable development.

"I believe, the global protection of geological heritage will be further intensified, with the coordination of UNESCO and the unremitting efforts of international governments and people from all circles," she said at the closing ceremony.

The three-day first international conference on geoparks, jointly sponsored by UNESCO and the Ministry of Land and Resources of China, attracted more than 500 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, who held in-depth discussions on a series of subjects, including geological heritage protection and geoparks construction.

As the first international gala for geoparks, the conference also adopted the charter on an international geopark conference, in addition to the Beijing Declaration.

According to the charter, the international geopark conference will be held every two years in principle, and the second conference will be held in Ireland in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2004)