From July 5th to 9th, 2018, the 2018 Chishui Danxia popular science discussion and experience event was held in Guizhou Chishui Danxia national geopark. At the invitation of the National Geological Park Administration of Chishui Danxia, Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark Management Office participated in the training camp discussion as a special observer, and participated in a series of activities such as ice-breaking, camp opening ceremony, seminar and field study in the popular science training camp.
More than 80 people from 14 geoparks and natural heritage sites, including management representatives, scientific research institutions, social groups and volunteers, participated in this activity. The training camp had in-depth discussions on the work concepts on cultural and natural heritages and geopark education, the promotion of science popularization of natural heritages and geoparks, the share of the experience of research-and-study, science popularization and education, how volunteers work in Chishui Danxia and more exchanges between geoparks and natural heritages. During the event, Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark and other 13 participating geoparks and natural heritage management units also signed the China Danxia Scenic and Historic Interest Area Geological Park Administration Friendly Cooperation Initiative.
In the Initiative, all participating units jointly propose:
First, strengthen the exchanges between natural heritages and geoparks to learn from each other;
Second, send personnel to participate in each other's science popularization activities;
Third, promote and release each other’s news on websites, official accounts and other media;
Fourth, share science popularization materials and summaries for mutual learning.
As participants and experiencers, our geopark also benefited a lot from this activity.
In this activity, Natural heritage management agencies, volunteer management teams, geopark management bodies and volunteers had a full exchange to understand the organization and management of volunteer training activities from all aspects and levels. By the signing of the China Danxia Scenic and Historic Interest Area Geological Park Administration Friendly Cooperation Initiative, Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark will make more geopark partners and lay a solid foundation for exchange activities.
The inspirations we got form this activity: well organized and goal-oriented popular science volunteer training camp will greatly enhance the popularity of geoparks; science popularization volunteers covering a large age span from all walks of life from all over the country expand geoparks’ popularity while doing the volunteer work; relying on unique geological landforms, animal and plant resources and rich cultural heritage, Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark can have geat achievement by developing popular science tourism activities and verifying publicity means. It not only propagates the knowledge of geopark, but also promotes the protection of ecological resources and creates favorable conditions for local residents to generate income. The way that the 14 geoparks jointly concluded the agreement on science popularization work makes us think together to expand the form of science popularization and to broaden the thinking of science popularization research. Change the single sister-park relationship into a regional cooperation form, strengthen members’ learning from each other, and win extra points for the next reassessment of this assessment. The single sister-park relationship turns into regional cooperation will strengthen the mutual learning and win extra points for the next reassessment.
