Conservation and management of geoparks with sustainable development policies

VHO - On the morning of September 12, at the Cao Bang Provincial Convention Center, the opening ceremony of the 8th International Conference of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in the Asia- Pacific region took place.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son delivered the opening speech at the Conference.

Attending the Conference were Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee Tran Hong Minh; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc; Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee Nong Thi Ha; Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh; Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant to the UNESCO Director-General for Natural Sciences; Mr. Nickolas Zouro, Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network; Mr. Jin XiaoChi, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of the Global Geoparks Network, Coordinator of the Global Geoparks Network for the Asia- Pacific region, and more than 800 domestic and international delegates.

Speaking at the Conference, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh shared that, with the theme "Local community and sustainable development in the Geopark area" and many rich, attractive and practical activities, this conference aims to find many useful solutions in building and developing the title of Global Geopark; thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the values of heritage types towards sustainable development.

The Chairman of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee suggested that delegates and members of the Geopark Network focus on collective intelligence and responsibility to share experiences in building and developing Geoparks. From there, together find solutions to the current global challenges, especially strengthening the role of local communities, the subjects of Geoparks in activities to preserve, build and promote the value of Geoparks for a sustainable community development.

Conference Delegates

Speaking at the opening session, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Vietnam UNESCO Commission Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized: Global Geopark Heritage is a priceless asset of mankind, the activities of the Global Geopark Network have actively contributed to protecting the Earth and humanity for the planet. The conference is a forum for researchers, managers, scholars from Geopark countries to meet, connect, exchange information, share experiences to continuously improve the construction, operation and promote the role of UNESCO Global Geoparks associated with sustainable development goals, especially building and connecting Geopark tourism between countries to become unique tourism products with the participation of many ethnic communities in the world; associated with environmental protection, protection of natural resources and indigenous cultures is an inevitable requirement of the tourism industry towards sustainable development.

"Cao Bang has chosen the Geopark model as the right direction. Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has done well the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network in the direction of preserving and promoting the values of heritage types to develop sustainable tourism; protect environmental resources, and develop a green economy" - Mr. Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nickolas Zouro, Chairman of the Global Geoparks Network, emphasized that the challenges of climate change require us to think more strongly and specifically to respond to climate change and natural disaster risks. From there, we can improve the capacity of the community to respond to climate change, creating a safer world.

Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh speaks

Referring to the losses caused by storm Yagi in the northern region and Cao Bang province in particular, Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences, emphasized that the impact of climate change spares no one, we need to make joint and persistent efforts to reduce the impact and damage of climate change.

Emphasizing the purpose of the Global Geopark Network is to connect and unite through commitments to protect heritage and sustainable development, Ms. Lidia Brito suggested that delegates attending the Conference increase exchanges of knowledge and experience in protecting landscapes, heritages, and cultural identities in the Geopark area and sustainable development.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son shared the losses and grief of the people in the North and Cao Bang province in particular due to storm Yagi and its aftermath, and asked localities to overcome the consequences of natural disasters and soon stabilize people's lives and production.

On behalf of the Government, the Deputy Prime Minister shared the difficulties and losses of life and property that the people of Cao Bang and the mountainous and midland localities of the North are facing; highly appreciated the efforts of the leaders and people of Cao Bang as well as the localities to overcome natural disasters, soon stabilize production and people's lives, and successfully organize this important conference.

Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences, emphasized that the impact of climate change spares no one. We need to make joint and persistent efforts to reduce the impact and damage of climate change.

"Overcoming the obstacles of storms and floods, the large participation of the delegates themselves demonstrates the determination of the Asia-Pacific region in particular and UNESCO members in general, along with strong actions to strengthen the role of local communities - one of the important solutions to achieve the sustainable development goals that humanity is striving towards," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

As the only United Nations organization in the field of earth sciences, UNESCO has for over 50 years played a pioneering role in promoting international cooperation to raise awareness and action to harmoniously and sustainably address the relationship between humans and nature.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the global geopark network has made practical contributions to strengthening the connection, preserving, conserving and promoting the value of special heritage types - geological heritage associated with biodiversity, environmental protection, cultural preservation, for community development, people's livelihoods and sustainable development in the region and globally over the past two decades.

However, the Government leader also noted that, according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Report 2024 last June, only 17% of the targets are on track. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, if the current implementation progress is maintained, it will take until 2062 to achieve the commitments set for 2030.

"Global geoparks are a solution to this global problem," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed.

There are only 10 days left until the Future Summit in New York (USA) to turn words and commitments into concrete actions to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. This is the time for Asia-Pacific, as an important driving force, a dynamic and self-reliant development center of the world, to join hands to contribute to responding to the challenges of the times, realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, bringing practical benefits to all members and people, leaving no one behind.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the space of ethnic groups in the Geopark.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son suggested that the Conference focus on discussing and clarifying a number of new cooperation directions.

Accordingly, it is necessary to determine a comprehensive approach to unify awareness and action on preserving and promoting the value of geoparks for sustainable development.

It is necessary to increase the exchange of good experiences and good examples, and make appropriate policy recommendations on the management, conservation and sustainable development of global geoparks.

Along with that is promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships and international cooperation to develop global geoparks associated with sustainable development; promoting a 5-year, 10-year long-term vision for developing the Global Geopark Network - a strong international cooperation network to preserve and promote the value of geological heritages not only for our benefit but also for future generations.

"I expect the Cao Bang Declaration to be an important document assessing the Network's activities over the past two decades, proposing cooperation orientations in the coming decade, especially next year, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Program (2015-2025), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasized.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Geopark's ethnic space, opening the series of activities of the conference taking place from September 12-15.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/di-san/bao-ton-quan-ly-cong-vien-dia-chat-voi-chinh-sach-phat-trien-ben-vung-104644.html