Meeting Time: October 10-11, 2019

Venue: Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark

Participants of the Jingpohu Lake Global Geopark: Ma Xiaoqun, Fu Chonghua

Meeting details:

The 2019 Annual Conference of China UNESCO Global Geoparks was held in Dunhuang, Gansu. This year, China added two new UNESCO Global Geoparks—Jiuhuashan and Yimengshan—maintaining a 100% nomination success rate, bringing the total number of such geoparks in China to 39. The expansion applications of three existing global geoparks—Sanqingshan, Funiushan, and Taishan—were successfully approved. Additionally, four global geoparks—Taishan, Tianzhushan, Zhijindong, and Dunhuang—passed their re-evaluations smoothly.

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration has completed the compilation of the National Geological Heritage Protection Plan (2020-2035). It has begun to identify a list of nationally significant geological heritage sites in batches and will release it at an appropriate time. The administration has also compiled the Guidelines for the Application and Reassessment of China's UNESCO Global Geoparks (Trial).

The conference shared and exchanged experiences in the management, construction, application, and re-evaluation of UNESCO Global Geoparks, as well as their protection and development. It also interpreted the evaluation criteria for UNESCO Global Geoparks and discussed topics such as geoheritage protection, geopark management, and talent development. The Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark and the Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark established a sister-park relationship.

The total number of UNESCO Global Geoparks is 147, distributed across 41 countries and regions worldwide.