Enhancing the management and operational capacity of geoparks.

On May 28th, within the framework of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Specialized Subcommittee on Global Geoparks in Vietnam, a training course on enhancing the management and operation capacity of geoparks was held in Tuyen Quang to improve the quality of human resources in the conservation and promotion of the value of geoparks in Vietnam.

Overview of the training course on enhancing management and operation capacity of geoparks. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

The training course brought together approximately 50 participants, including leaders and specialists in charge of Geoparks from the People's Committees of communes within the Geopark area, as well as representatives from the Management Boards of Geoparks belonging to the Vietnam Global Geopark Network.

The training program focuses on enhancing the professional capacity and skills of officials in the management, conservation, and promotion of the value of Geoparks; and updating operational guidelines in line with the spirit of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific Geopark Network.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Nong Van Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province, stated: Geoparks are a relatively new field, requiring grassroots officials directly involved in their operation to continuously improve their professional capacity and sense of responsibility. To meet this demand, the core objective of the training program is to find a sustainable tourism development direction, helping ethnic minorities in mountainous areas improve their lives, alleviate poverty, and sustainably preserve heritage.

Mr. Nong Van Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province, delivered the opening speech. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

The training program of the refresher course was implemented through four modules, with the participation of speakers and experts in the field of Geoparks.

Topic 1 provides an overview of Geoparks, focusing on basic concepts, criteria, and the process of recognizing UNESCO Global Geoparks. This presentation was given by Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, Member of the Advisory Board of the Global Geoparks Network for the Asia-Pacific Region, and former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Geological Sciences and Minerals.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, a geopark is not a closed conservation area, but rather a geographical-administrative space that allows for socio-economic development in accordance with the law. The core distinguishing feature of this designation is the constant presence of the local community as a direct participant in conservation and benefiting from it. This is also a suitable practical model for realizing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van presents the topic. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

In Topic 2, Ms. Do Yen Ngoc, a consultant for the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, presented on the geological, natural, and cultural heritage values ​​of the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark area for sustainable development.

Ms. Ngoc affirmed that in heritage areas, geological, geomorphological, biodiversity, and cultural values ​​are always closely intertwined, forming the foundation for community livelihoods. Accurately identifying the heritage system and indigenous knowledge, such as techniques for cultivating crops in rocky crevices, building stone fences, or customary laws protecting forests, is key to building a meaningful tourism narrative that honors local identity and promotes environmental responsibility.

Ms. Do Yen Ngoc presented a specialized report.

Delving deeper into the management aspect, in Topic 3, Mr. Nguyen Dai Trung, Member of the Secretariat of the Geopark Subcommittee, Head of the Science, Training and International Cooperation Department, Institute of Geological Sciences and Minerals, provided guidance on the operation and coordinated management of geoparks at the grassroots level.

Mr. Trung stated that the four areas where national geoparks are currently facing the most severe shortage of experts are ecoeconomics, geological heritage management, land planning, and climate change response. For sustainable operation, provincial-level authorities need specific mechanisms to recruit and retain specialized experts, while proactively addressing organizational and personnel bottlenecks at the grassroots level.

Mr. Nguyen Dai Trung presents topic 3. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Notably, in Session 4, Ms. Vashna Thien Kim, an independent researcher in endogenous health technology and environmental activist, shared her insights on "Humans in Geopark Management and Operation: Resilience, Self-Regulation, and Adaptability in High-Pressure Environments."

According to Ms. Vashna Thien Kim, the management staff, tour guides, media personnel, conservationists, and community support staff frequently work in challenging terrain, fluctuating weather conditions, face pressure from inter-sectoral coordination, and meet increasingly high demands for tourist service. Therefore, the resilience of the operational team can be considered a complementary factor to management capabilities.

Ms. Vashna Thien Kim shared about her resilience, self-regulation, and adaptability in high-pressure environments. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

In the practical session, trainees are introduced to Haama Breath, a structured breathing technique researched and developed by Vietnamese researchers, as part of an endogenous health technology approach. The practical content focuses on the ability to self-regulate stress, restore work performance, maintain composure when coordinating tasks, and stay alert during field trips, surveys, or guiding tourists in mountainous terrain.

Based on this, Ms. Vashna Thien Kim proposed a new approach called "Human-Nature Coupling." In heritage areas, instead of just providing one-way environmental education through information, cultural spaces could be created where visitors can practice breathing and experiencing nature. If properly piloted, this would be a pioneering step in creating a network of "Restorative Geoparks" in Vietnam, contributing to enhancing the value of destinations in line with UNESCO's sustainable development orientation, while simultaneously promoting the consumption of characteristic agricultural products, teas, and herbs, creating a dual value chain: Environmental education - Human restoration - Local livelihood economy.

Students participate in a class practicing Haama Breath exercises. (Photo: Organizers)

In his closing remarks at the training course, Mr. Hoang Xuan Don, Head of the Management Board of the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, stated that health tourism is a promising direction for the future. Health tourism can encompass various forms such as breathing exercises, yoga, walking, cycling, mineral baths, meditation, or other structured recovery methods, including the Haama Breath method recently introduced at the training course. Local authorities can research and develop plans suitable to their resources and specific conditions.

Along with heritage preservation, tourism development, and community education, the operational capacity of the people within heritage areas also needs to be considered as a crucial foundation for sustainable development.

TRANG ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nang-cao-nang-luc-quan-ly-van-hanh-cac-cong-vien-dia-chat-post965501.html