Date: October 15, 2015 by Zhang Chuanmin

Surrounded by the pleasant autumn sceneries and bathed in the refreshing breeze, Yesterday, officials from Global Geoparks Network Executive Board of the UN, overseas and domestic experts in geological industry, representatives of geopark areas and persons in charge of the China Association of National Parks and Scenic Sites constituted the delegates, and gather around the idyllic bank of Pingnan Baishuiyang to attend the 5^th Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Symposium of "Taking Root in Communities" 

 Experts present at the symposium 

Experts conducted site inspections of the Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark.

Sited in the northeast part of Fujian Province, the Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark mainly features geological relics of late Mesozoic granites and volcanics and erosional landforms of contemporary rivers, with a combination of the coastal and island landforms; it is reputed as a large-scale comprehensive geopark with rich cultural landscapes and a good natural ecology. Since the successful application of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010, Ningde has paid great attention to the protection and development of geopark resources; a batch of senior experts in institutions of geological sciences have been recruited as consultants; a series of cooperation with multiple colleges, universities and research institutions, including Fujian Institute of Geological Survey, Zijin Mining College of Fuzhou University, and Fujian Normal University, have been enacted to set bases for scientific research and experiment, and to jointly carry out the geological research and protection work for geoparks. Under the sincere cooperation and concerted efforts of the Management Committee of the geopark with experts and scholars, the five years have witnessed significant achievements in many aspects of the geopark, such as relics protection, scientific research, and popularization of geological knowledge. Effective protection has been achieved in geological relics and ecological environment. Meanwhile, to give full play of the brand effects of Global Geopark, our city has held five sessions of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Culture & Tourism Festival in succession, which greatly improved the tourism image and market competitiveness of Ningde. The geopark has realized an annual increase of more than 20% in both tourist number and tourism revenue; the annual per capital income of residents has increased by 18.5%; both function as evidence for its powerful promotion of the sustainable development of local economy.

To give full play to the window display, publicity and education effects of the Global Geopark, and strengthen the association of the geopark with social communities, the delegates of this symposium put emphasis on the deep discussion in the aspect of the geopark's "taking root in communities" and offer their own advice and suggestions for further promoting the sustainable and healthy development of the Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark.

Guy Martini, a member of the Global Geoparks Network Executive Board, suggested that the cooperation with local enterprises and organizations targeted at mutual promotion and win-win situation should be fully carried out to ensure greater successes in the sustainable tourism and other economic activities. He also recommended the matching of tourism activities with local natural and cultural characteristics and the necessity to give full respect to local traditions and customs. Ms. Tracey Iwan Kabaike, a representative of the British Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark pointed out that the success of an education activity for geopark depends not only on the tourism plan, competent working staff and tourist-targeted logistic support, but also depends on the expanded communication with local inhabitants, journalists and decision makers. The wide participation of organization and proper capability building is conducive to the wide acceptance of the geopark ideas. The local residents play an important role in the construction and maintenance of the geopark.

Tong Guanghui, the consultant of the Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, considered that the protection of geological relics and natural and cultural heritages should be emphasized in the development and construction of global geopark; the geoscience tourism should be developed for the sustainable development of regional economies; multiple projects for science popularization education should be enacted to deliver geoscience knowledge and environmental protection concepts to the public; communication activities should be organized to promote the development of culture. Yu Mingtong, a professor in Fujian Normal University, suggested that the commentaries and diagrams on the explanation boards within the geopark should be set from the cognitive perspective of the public to fulfill the integration of interpretative service, knowledge popularization and environmental protection. Lai Rongfu, a senior engineer in Fujian Institute of Geological Survey, expected that relevant parties should strengthen the training of guides for the geopark to advance the promotion of relevant scientific knowledge; the geopark theme museum and the geoscience popularization education base for youths should be included in the tourism project library; theme tourist commodities for each geopark should be launched; to increase the brand core competitiveness and initiate a good beginning for Fujian geoscience tourism brand, the resource advantages should be further integrated by relying on tourism sectors and an integrated development pattern of brand marketing should be constructed for the geopark.