Ninh Binh possesses many geological, geomorphological, natural landscape values along with unique heritages and historical relics. This is an important potential and advantage for the province to aim to build a global geopark, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the values of various types of heritage, while promoting socio-economic development.
The World Cultural and Natural Heritage Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is an important advantage for Ninh Binh to move towards building a UNESCO global geopark. (In the photo: A corner of Trang An seen from above). Photo: Ngoc Linh
Turn potential into advantage
Global Geopark is an internationally significant title recognized, sponsored and encouraged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In Vietnam, UNESCO has honored 3 global geoparks, namely: Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Ha Giang; Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark and Dak Nong Global Geopark.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, former Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources - a person with many years of experience in working on World Heritage and UNESCO Global Geopark dossiers, including the Trang An Landscape Complex Heritage dossier: Building a global geopark in Ninh Binh is a reasonable direction, in line with the development trend and completely feasible. Because Ninh Binh has all the advantages and strengths that meet the criteria. In particular, the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international geological heritage, meeting 3 criteria on geology and geomorphology (criterion VIII), landscape (criterion VII) and also meeting criterion V - human interaction with irreversible changes in the environment. Thus, Ninh Binh has met a prerequisite requirement of UNESCO which is to have at least one geological heritage of international significance.
Ninh Binh Geopark may include several protected areas such as the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex itself, Cuc Phuong National Park, and Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve. In addition, Ninh Binh Geopark may include Ninh Binh city with many other cultural, historical, and archaeological relics, typically Non Nuoc Mountain. Ninh Binh Geopark may be further expanded to surrounding districts, to include many other relics and scenic spots such as Kenh Ga hot spring, Phat Diem stone church, Tam Diep defense line, Than Phu ancient seaport, and part of the Kim Son World Biosphere Reserve, etc. Interspersed among the above-mentioned protected areas, relics, and scenic spots are sustainable development areas. The scale, scope and boundaries of Ninh Binh Geopark will be determined after investigating, surveying and assessing the overall heritage potential of the proposed geopark area, combined with consideration of socio-economic development options of the province and other districts and cities.
Mr. Paul Dingwall, an international consultant at UNESCO, shared: International experience shows that the most effective measure to protect and preserve geological heritage is to establish geoparks and promote geotourism and accompanying support services. A geopark is a collection of geological heritages, placed in a system, a unified whole, where tourists can visit, rest, learn - a place where geotourism can be developed. This is a new type of cultural and ecological tourism, which can be developed in areas with important geological characteristics and values, exploited to improve the quality of tourism in general and especially attract tourists interested in these characteristics and values. Geotourism is the link between nature and culture of a region, an area, which can meet new trends and needs of tourists, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of many territories.
For sustainable development
According to experts, the successful construction of a global geopark in Ninh Binh has many important meanings, contributing to harmoniously resolving the relationship between conservation and development, between protecting the values of natural resources and heritage and promoting socio-economic development. When recognized as a global geopark, it will open up opportunities to enhance the position of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and Ninh Binh province. At the same time, it will contribute to improving the lifestyle and livelihood of local communities; expanding international recognition and position in a number of other conservation areas, relics and heritages. Thereby, increasing the socio-economic position of Ninh Binh province in Vietnam and internationally, especially in the fields of conservation and tourism.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, former Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, added: The shortest route for Ninh Binh to be recognized by UNESCO as a global geopark is about 3 years. Therefore, to achieve this goal, Ninh Binh needs to simultaneously implement many important tasks.
First of all, it is necessary to promote propaganda and education to raise public awareness of the values of geoparks associated with local socio-economic development, making global geoparks more accessible and becoming the goal and motivation for the Party, Government and People in the province.
Second, the locality needs to coordinate with domestic and international units, organizations and experts to carry out the work of establishing, zoning, preserving and promoting heritage values in the area expected to become a UNESCO Ninh Binh Global Geopark. Focus on restoring, embellishing, ranking and reviving the values of geological heritage, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge, biodiversity that have been lost, changed or damaged to preserve and promote heritage values. Attention should be paid to restoring some traditional crafts, customs, rituals, historical relics; improving and restoring the environmental landscape.
In addition, the province needs to prioritize planning and converting land use purposes to meet the needs of tourism development associated with the heritages of the global geopark. Actively call for investment, invest in upgrading infrastructure to serve tourism development in areas with great potential for tourism development in the region. At the same time, continue to improve the effectiveness of conservation work, promote heritage values, build programs to improve capacity to combat climate change, mitigate natural disasters, raise awareness for local authorities, communities, and tourists about the work of preserving heritage values. It is worth noting that the title of UNESCO global geopark is periodically re-evaluated and recognized every 4 years. Therefore, once Ninh Binh is determined to pursue it, it needs to commit and be responsible for maintaining the title.
In the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Ninh Binh continues to adhere to the socio-economic development goals in the direction of "Green, Sustainable and Harmonious"; economic development goes hand in hand with equity and social progress on the basis of maximizing the outstanding potential, unique values and unique advantages of the locality, the core of which is to preserve and promote the values of cultural-historical heritage, fine traditions of the people, the land of the Ancient Capital and the outstanding global values of the mixed heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex as the foundation, resources and driving force for development, to become a national and international cultural-historical and tourism center; develop urban and rural areas in a civilized and modern direction, focusing on "Millennium Heritage Urban Area".
The construction of the UNESCO Ninh Binh Global Geopark will be a "win-win" solution, contributing to reducing the burden on the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, preserving, exploiting and promoting the value of this World Heritage Site in a more systematic and effective manner, and preserving and promoting the overall value of many types of heritage in a much larger area. Thereby, Ninh Binh will successfully achieve the goals set out in the Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
Minh Hai
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/xay-dung-cong-vien-dia-chat-toan-cau-ninh-binh-huong-di-vi/d2024081308134640.htm
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