Within the framework of the Conference, the delegation of Dak Nong province actively researched, met and connected with members of the Regional Network and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNESCO Global Geopark Maros Pangkep, Indonesia, period 2022-2027.
Witnessing the signing ceremony, on the Vietnamese side, there were Prof. Dr. Tran Tan Van, Coordinator of Vietnam Geopark Network and Dr. Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh, Vice Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People’s Committee, Director of Dak Nong UNESCO Geopark Management Body. On the Indonesian side, there was Prof. Mega Fatima Rosana, Chairman of the Expert Council, National Geopark Network Steering Committee of Indonesia and Mr. Togu Pardede, Deputy Director of the Department of Geology, Mining and Geothermal, Ministry of National Development Planning Indonesia.
The two Geoparks have agreed to make a joint plan each year to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, with many practical and interesting activities such as: exchange of learning experiences between students from schools in the Geopark area, Geopark camp, exchange change ideas and experiences on heritage protection; communication on geosciences and local tourism development, etc.
Despite being a new member to the Geopark Network, with the activeness and initiative in international cooperation and exchanges, Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark pioneered in the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding of Vietnam National Network, opening up opportunities for cooperation between the Vietnam and Indonesia Networks in the near future.
One of the efforts of the mission, which was recognized and appreciated at APGN7, was the initiation of the idea of establishing a thematic group on Volcanic Caves in the Asia-Pacific Regional Network. Based on the recommendations of scientists about the rarity and uniqueness of the geological heritage “volcanic cave” and through the process of contacting and learning about the Geoparks in the Regional Network, the mission found that only 7/80 members having Volcanic Cave. On that basis, the mission proposed the idea of establishing a thematic group on volcanic caves in the Asia-Pacific Regional Network, with the aim of sharing experiences in conservation and exploitation, sustainable exploitation of the values in volcanic caves.
Currently, the representatives of the Geoparks are going on exchanging ideas to develop and propose to sign a multilateral memorandum of understanding at the ISV20 Conference in Dak Nong, progressing to submit to the Executive Board of the Global Network on the establishment of a Volcanic Caves working group at the 2023 Geopark Network Conference in Morocco.
Ms. Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh – TUV, Vice Chairwoman of Provincial People’s Committee, Director of Dak Nong Geopark Management Body – representative of Dak Nong UNESCO Geopark was honored to be awarded the official membership certificate from Prof. Dr. Nikolaos Zouros – President of Global Network and Mr. Guy Martini – Chairman of Association UNESCO Geopark Council.
