Actively implementing criteria and recommendations of Global Geopark Network

From March 20 to 24, the consulting team included Mr. Guy Martini, Secretary General of the Global Geopark Network (GGN), Mr. Tran Tan Van, GGN coordinator, and members of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark Management Board conducted a comprehensive survey to evaluate and orient the development of the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark in the period 2023 - 2026.

During their time working at the Dong Van Geopark, experts noted and congratulated Dong Van Geopark on passing the third re-evaluation period in 2022 and also highly appreciated the positive changes of the Dong Van Geopark in implementing the GGN’s criteria and recommendations.

Experts examined the current status and assessed the level of development on four experience routes, thereby advising and orienting Ha Giang province to implement tasks to improve the quality of tourism services, reduce the load on urban areas and towns in the Geopark area, develop partner facilities, operations, management, ensure traffic and safety for tourists at heritage sites as well as develop the Geopark under sustainable direction.

After the field trip, experts discussed and gave preliminary advice on development orientation for the next 4 years. Accordingly, the Geopark needs to focus on investing in infrastructure in tourist destinations, supporting and creating livelihoods for local people, promoting business models associated with preserving traditional crafts, indigenous architecture, strictly controlling traffic and ensuring safety for tourists at heritage sites...

Consider expanding the Geopark to promote heritage values

The Dong Van Karst Plateau became a Global Geopark under the auspices of UNESCO in 2010.

To date, the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau global geopark has successfully passed two periods of re-evaluation of its membership in the Global Geopark Network. Investment in infrastructure has made Dong Van Karst Plateau an attractive destination, opening up sustainable development based on cultural identity values and the magnificence of the natural landscape, the unique geological heritage..., making an important contribution in orienting the socio-economic development structure of the rocky plateau, especially the tourism economy to create livelihoods for local people to strive to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty.

Ha Giang is determined to maintain its title as a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark network; develop the geopark towards sustainable development, preserve traditional culture, natural landscapes, restructure the tourism, agriculture, forestry, industry, and construction, protect the environment, ensure national defense, security and political stability in the northern border region.

The province is on a journey to strive to develop the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark into a special tourist area by 2025, representing Ha Giang province with synchronous and modern facilities. By 2030, it will meet the criteria and be recognized as a National Tourist Area.

To achieve that goal, Ha Giang identifies the following tasks: focusing resources on synchronous investment in transport infrastructure systems, electricity, domestic water, tourism, and environmental sanitation; implementing educational work to raise community awareness about the value of the Geopark to jointly participate in the management, protection and preservation of geological heritage values, cultural heritage and biodiversity;

Preserving and promoting the values of traditional cultural heritage, geological heritage, and scenic spots associated with tourism development, building Ha Giang people to meet the country's development requirements, arousing self-esteem, national pride and love for the homeland, contributing to firmly protecting national border sovereignty;

Restructuring the sectors of tourism, agriculture, forestry, industry, and construction for socio-economic development. Training and fostering the development of local labor resources to create livelihoods for people to strive to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty; expanding international cooperation and joint ventures in development, attracting potential investors to implement development projects in accordance with the provisions of law and regional development plans approved by competent authorities.

With the mission of the UNESCO Global Geopark, Ha Giang always focuses on community education to raise awareness about preserving geological and cultural heritage, strengthen cooperation in research and sharing of heritage values to affirm the value of the geopark; turning heritage values into important resources for socio-economic development for the sustainable development of the community.

Yen Minh