MEETING ON PROGRESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS OF NON NUOC CAO BANG, CAO BANG AND DONG VAN KARST PLATEAU, HA GIANG

Participants at the meeting discussed and evaluated the progress of the development of the UNESCO global geoparks of the two provinces following the criteria and recommendation of UNESCO for each geopark, difficulties and solutions to technical concerns as well as the activity plan in 2019.

          In 2018, the Management board of Non nuoc Cao Bang carried out activities on the development of the geoark following the criteria and the 6 recommendations of UNESCO reported at the the meeting of UNESCO global geopark’s council in September 2017 and as suggested by the international consultant and the Institude of Geology and Mineral resources. The Management board of Non nuoc Cao Bang geopark consulted the province and the Steering committee for the development of UNESCO global geopark of Cao Bang to implement activities in the development Project and arising tasks as scheduled; carried out activities on communication and promotion of Non nuoc Cao Bang geopark; participated at the networking activities of the UNGESCO global geopark; developed a system of infrastructure in the 3 experience routes and a system of geopark partner meeting criteria of UNESCO and the Global geopark network

In 2019, Management board of Non nuoc Cao Bang will focus on the some of following activities: completing the Project on the Definition of conservation and development area; upgrading and developing experience and information sites in the Eastern route Experience traditional cultures in the wonderland; cooperating with related departments, UNESCO experts to complete the design of geopark coner in the Museum of Cao Bang province; developing a geopark collaborator team to maintain and protect information sites of the geopark (to be implemented in 2019: first a baseline survey will be carried out to choose competent ones and carry out training for these candidates); developing a set of criteria for geopark partners such as restaurants, homestays and hotels, then announcing these criteria on public media; collaborating with Dong Van karst plateau to organize the Geopark information day in Hanoi; carrying out education sessions to raise awareness of geopark in schools; expanding the territory of Non nuoc Cao Bang geopark to include Cao Bang city in the geopark for the development of the Proposal on collecting visitors’ fee in the geopark area.

 In addition, the meeting also agreed on the implementation of some promotional activities such as: organizing events, upgrading the websites of the geopark, using social networking sites such as facebook and developing the M&E system to collect visitors’ review and feedback after visiting Non nuoc Cao Bang on Tripadvisor.