Meeting time: November 6-8, 2018

Meeting location: Yandangshan UNESCO Global Geopark

Participants of Jingpohu Lake UNESCO Global Geopark: Bao Kun

Meeting details:

The 2018 Annual Conference and Experience Exchange Meeting of China's UNESCO Global Geoparks was held from November 6 to 8 at the Yandang Mountain UNESCO Global Geopark in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. This conference marked the first national annual meeting of global geoparks since the management function of geoparks was transferred to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. It attracted nearly 150 representatives from 37 global geoparks, aspiring geoparks, and relevant administrative departments across the country. The meeting focused on key topics such as geological heritage protection, geoscience education, and sustainable development of geotourism. Two new members, Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe and Huanggang Dabieshan, shared their construction experiences, while several parks exchanged insights on evaluation and re-evaluation processes. During the closing ceremony, plaques were awarded to the two new members, and it was announced that the 2019 annual conference would be held at the Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark. After the meeting, participants conducted field inspections of Yandang Mountain's geological heritage and park construction.