On April 20, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration held a UNESCO Global Geopark recommendation review meeting via Tencent Meeting. Experts were organized to review the application materials of Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan in Hebei, Taihang Mountain Changzhi in Shanxi, and Shiniuzhai in Pingjiang, Hunan, for UNESCO Global Geopark status. The meeting aimed to select candidate sites with unique value and demonstration significance for the Global Geoparks Network.
During the meeting, Li Qingchen from the Institute of Geographical Sciences, Hebei Academy of Sciences, as a representative of the technical support team for the application of Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan, Hebei, delivered an on-site presentation with a carefully prepared PPT from a professional and comprehensive perspective. He gave an in-depth explanation of the urgent need for Zanhuang County to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark, pointing out that this is not only an inevitable requirement for protecting and inheriting the area’s unique geological relics, but also a key measure for promoting the coordinated development of regional ecology, culture, and economy. He also introduced in detail the favorable conditions of Zanhuang County, including its rich and diverse geological relic resources, profound cultural heritage, and the strong attention and active promotion given by the government. In terms of specific measures, he provided a detailed explanation from multiple dimensions, including scientific planning, ecological protection, science popularization education, and integrated cultural tourism development, demonstrating Zanhuang County’s efforts and determination to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark. On behalf of the team, Li Qingchen made a solemn commitment to ensure that the application work would be advanced strictly in accordance with international standards and that geological relic resources would be properly protected and utilized.
The participating experts reviewed the application materials carefully with a rigorous and professional attitude. During the review process, they raised targeted questions from time to time and conducted on-site inquiries and in-depth exchanges with the presenters. Afterwards, drawing on their professional knowledge and rich experience, the experts put forward a series of constructive opinions and suggestions, providing clear guidance for improving the application materials and further advancing the application work.
It is worth noting that the leaders of Zanhuang County attached great importance to this meeting. The principal leaders of the county Party committee and government, as well as leaders in charge of relevant work, actively participated in the meeting online. They listened carefully to the experts’ opinions and gained a deeper understanding of the key points and difficulties in the application work, laying a solid foundation for coordinated follow-up efforts. The successful convening of this meeting has injected strong momentum into Hebei Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan’s application for UNESCO Global Geopark status and is expected to help Zanhuang County reach a new level in the protection and utilization of geological relics.