From October 10th to 15th, 2024, Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark Management Office led a delegation of 7 staff to participate in the 8th UNESCO International Training Course on Global Geopark Management and Development held in Xiangxi, Hunan.
This training course is jointly organized by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Xiangxi Global Geopark, with strong support from the UNESCO Global Geopark Secretariat, the Global Geopark Network, the Asia Pacific Geopark Network, the Nature Reserve Management Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. Technical support is provided by the Aegean University in Greece. 125 experts, scholars, and colleagues from different geoparks participated in the training.
The theme of this training is “UNESCO Global Geoparks and Sustainable Development”. UNESCO members and geopark representatives from China, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and other countries are invited to gather at Xiangxi Global Geopark to learn about the operation and management experience of global geoparks. The training provided explanations on the concept, management, communication, sustainable development, capacity building, as well as the application, evaluation, and re-validation of the Global Geopark through special lectures, problem analysis, group discussions, case analysis and other methods. In addition, on-site inspection was also conducted on the Xiangxi Global Geopark.
Professor Zhang Jianping gave a lecture
Nikolaos Zouro delivered the speech
Kristof VANDENBERGHE delivered the speech
During the on-site inspection, participants from Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark accompanied Professor Tetsuya Nakata, a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council and the Executive Board of the Global Geopark Network, to conduct in-depth research on the role of geoparks in promoting rural revitalization in the Miao Village area of the Xiangxi Global Geopark. And actively communicated and exchanged ideas with members of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, the Executive Board of the Global Geoparks Network, and several UNESCO Global Geopark validation experts, and introduced Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark to them.
Professor Tetsuya Nakata in on-site inspection
Xiangxi Global Geopark Museum
Certificates issuing
After the training session, the participants of Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark were warmly invited to Zhangjiajie Global Geopark for learning and exchange activities. Accompanied by Yang Wensheng, member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of Zhangjiajie Forestry Bureau, and Zhang Ying, Director of Zhangjiajie Global Geopark Management Office, the participates visited Zhangjiajie’s unique sandstone landforms, Zhangjiajie Museum, Tianmen Fox Fairy live performance, and had a discussion on the operation and management mode of the geopark. Both parties have tentatively agreed to build the sister-park relationship, strengthen communication and exchange, and lay the foundation for the next step of cooperation.
In Zhangjiajie Global Geopark
Through this training, the participants of Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark have gained a deep understanding of the construction concept of global geoparks, learned more excellent innovative practices and management experience, and laid the foundation for the upcoming re-validation in 2025.
