On the night of July 24th, Chen Shaorong, Secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee, met with evaluator for UNESCO Global Geoparks, head of Office Geopark Trägerverein e.V. Germany, Dr. Henning Zellmer, and evaluator for UNESCO Global Geoparks, head of Planning & Development Unit of Geopark and Sustainability Section, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Ms. Abdul Hamid, who carried out a revalidation mission to Danxiashan Global Geopark. The two sides discussed and exchanged views on the sustainable and high-quality development of Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark. Deputy Director of Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province, Wu Xiaomou and Mayor Chen Zhiqing attended the meeting.
Dr. Henning Zellmer and Ms. Abdul Hamid expressed their gratitude for the warm reception. They said that after listening to the work report of Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark earlier, they learned a lot of innovative management methods of the global geopark, and they are happy to see that Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark has found a balance between tourism development, scenic area management and resource protection. What is even more gratifying is that in many important assessment indicators, such as the proportion of women in the park's management staff, Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark has met or exceeded the standards set by UNESCO. In the next three days, the revalidation panel will go deep into the park to conduct field visits, according to the requirements of UNESCO, assess the relevant projects one by one, and exchange and share the experience of the construction of geopark with public in real time. We look forward to experiencing the unique geological landscape, beautiful natural scenery and profound cultural heritage of Danxiashan.
Chen Shaorong thanked the revalidation panel for their guidance and support for the construction and protection of Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark. He said that the Shaoguan Municipal Party Committee and municipal government attach great importance to the protection of Danxiashan, and continue to increase investment in construction in strict accordance with the UNESCO Global Geopark standards. Under the guidance of Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province, Shaoguan has conducted in-depth investigation and research on the geological geomorphic diversity and ecological biodiversity of Danxiashan, established a biodiversity monitoring system, a geological relic database and a geological disaster monitoring system, and carried out various science popularization and research activities on a regular basis to promote the construction, protection and development of Danxiashan in a scientific and orderly manner. Continuously enhance the ecological value and scientific value of Danxiashan. It is hoped that the revalidation panel will continue to care about and support the development and construction of Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark, provide more valuable suggestions, and let Shaoguan protect and build Danxiashan better, show the world Danxiashan's unique geological and ecological resources, and shoulder the historical responsibility of protecting the world's ecological resources.
Wu Zhenyang, main member of Geoscience Tourism Committee of Earth Science Commission of Australia, and Jiang Wenhong, Deputy mayor, attended the meeting.
