On November 22nd, in Gia Nghia City, Dak Nong province collaborated with the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) to organize the Opening Ceremony of the 20th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology and “15 years of Geopark development in Vietnam Symposium” in both in-person and online form.
Representatives from international organizations participated in the Opening Ceremony: Vietnam UNESCO; the International Volcanic Cave Committee (abbreviated as UIS-CVC).
On the side of Dak Nong province, there are members of the Central Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee – Mr. Dieu K’Re, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council – Mr. Luu Van Trung, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee – Mr. Ho Van Muoi, members of the Provincial Party Committee Executive Board, local leaders and a large number of artisans and people in the province.
The symposium was attended online by Ms. Tran Hong Ha – member of the Central Party Committee, Minister of Ministry of Natural resources & Environment. Invited guests included representatives from the National Assembly’s Legal Committee; the National Assembly’s Cultural and Educational Committee; UNESCO Vietnam National Committee; the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources Vietnam; scientists from the Heritage Department, Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources Vietnam, Hanoi University of Natural Sciences, Hanoi Open University, leaders of Provincial People’s Committees of Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, Lang Son provinces, etc.
Speaking online from Hanoi, Minister of Ministry of Natural resources & Environment – Ms. Tran Hong Ha said that in the recent period, Vietnam has actively participated in international and regional cooperation mechanisms for geoparks, volcanic caves. Dak Nong province hosting the ISV20, which marks a new milestone in scientific cooperation between Vietnam and countries with cave systems around the world, between Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark and UIS-CVC and members of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN).
Although it is a very young member in the GGN, Dak Nong province was selected to host this important symposium, which has elevated the position of Dak Nong’s sites with international friends, strengthened cooperation relationships, affirmed that Vietnam is a fairly typical country in terms of natural heritage of the world.
Vietnam wishes to have close cooperation with international experts to research the values of Vietnam’s natural heritage, especially caves and volcanoes. At the same time, the solutions and policies will be proposed to manage the world’s heritage values, particularly bringing this heritages to serve the economic-social development associate with environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
These activities will help Dak Nong province to introduce and promote effectively the volcano cave system – the geological heritage (with traces of prehistoric culture) in Dak Nong UGGp; attract scientists to research and enhance the value of the cave system and its characteristic cultural values; share experiences, contribute to conserve and exploit effectively the international heritage values of Dak Nong province, serve the province’s development and contribute to the development of Vietnam.
In his opening speech at the Symposium, Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People’s Committee – Mr. Ho Van Muoi expressed his honor that Dak Nong was the locality hosting for the first time International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology and the Symposium “15 years of Geopark development” in Vietnam. Mr. Muoi emphasized that proactively hosting an international scientific event affirmed the province’s determination to conserve and use the heritage values sustainably, particularly geological heritage values. It was an opportunity for Dak Nong to introduce and promote the volcano cave system and the international geological heritage site of Dak Nong UGGp to domestic and international friends. This was also an occasion for Dak Nong to learn from international experience in the field of sustainable conservation, management and exploitation of heritage, serving the local socio-economic development.
Also at the opening ceremony, Mr. John Brush – Chairman of the International Cave and Volcano Committee, and Mr. Guy Martini – Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, Secretary-General of the Global Geoparks Network, acknowledged the efforts of Dak Nong province in particular, and Vietnam in general, in the conservation and sustainable development of valuable geological heritages. They emphasized the necessity of organizing a symposium to exchange new scientific values about volcanoes and volcano cave system worldwide, and proposed ways to effectively preserve and exploit geological heritage values.
After the opening session, ISV20 took place with the theme “Conservation and Sustainable Development of Volcanoes and Volcanic Caves”, with a focused discussion session at the Symposium Center of Dak Nong province.
From November 22nd – 24th, ISV20 will be held with main activities including: ISV20; ISV20 Specialized Seminars; “15 years of Geopark Development in Vietnam” Symposium; International exchange activities of UNESCO Global Geopark members; Field trips of DNUGGp.
