With many benefits for socio-economic development and environmental protection, Phu Yen province has been synchronously implementing the construction and documentation towards establishing a UNESCO Global Geopark, which receives strong support from Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Dang Quoc Khanh.
Da Dia reef special national relic (Tuy An district) will be the center of the global geopark space, the center of Phu Yen province's tourism space
In the recent working program with Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh and the ministry's working delegation in Tuy Hoa city, Ms Ho Thi Nguyen Thao, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment create conditions for Phu Yen to soon form a UNESCO global geopark.
Sustainable development associated with environmental protection
Speaking to Minister Khanh and the ministry's working delegation, Mr Pham Dai Duong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation emphasized that the province's viewpoint is sustainable economic development, associated with resource management, environmental protection, not sacrificing the environment for immediate benefits.
Minister Dang Quoc Khanh highly agreed and strongly supported the development perspective of Phu Yen province. According to the Minister, natural resources have been increasingly shrinking, so good management of resources and environmental protection is necessary, urgent and long-term work.
One of Phu Yen's specific solutions and actions in resource management and environmental protection for socio-economic development is to focus on building the Phu Yen Provincial Geopark Project towards the title of UNESCO Global Geopark. The Geopark will include 3 main scientific values, which are geological heritage value, historical cultural heritage value and biodiversity value.
PPC Vice Chairwoman, Ms Ho Thi Nguyen Thao affirmed that, through surveys and organizing many conferences and seminars, Phu Yen province can completely meet global Geopark criteria. One of the specific results is that recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology accepted the independent national project “Researching and assessing the value of geological heritage and other heritage as a scientific basis towards the establishment of a UNESCO Global Geopark in Phu Yen Province”, chaired by Dr. Nguyen Van Toan, with the Institute of Agricultural and Rural Planning Research and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations as the presiding agencies. This is the scientific basis for Phu Yen province to establish a Geopark and prepare a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a global Geopark.
In 2019, Mr Guy Martini, Secretary General of UNESCO's Global Geopark Network, head of the delegation with scientists from the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources and the Geological Museum to conduct a preliminary survey highly appreciated the unique geological relic values, outstanding geological features, rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage, biodiversity and ecological types, etc. very suitable for establishing a geopark. This observation completely coincides with the results of a recent national-level scientific project that was accepted.
Soon to form a global geopark
According to Mr Guy Martini, Geoparks are described as unified, single geographical areas with landscapes and locations of international geological significance that are appropriately managed and comprehensively protected based on educational foundation and sustainable development. One of the main goals, in addition to supporting the inner and surrounding area, is that the Geopark brings a sense of strength and pride to the local community, helping to strengthen identity, create jobs, and increase revenue through tourism.
The establishment of the Geopark is appropriate and included in Phu Yen Provincial Planning for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister and announced by the province. Establishment of Phu Yen Geopark, aiming for the title of UNESCO Global Geopark in order to build a local brand in the strategy of image promotion, international tourism development, aiming to exploit and promote synchronously and comprehensively the values of geological heritage, historical socio-cultural heritage, and biodiversity in a sustainable way, contributing to the goal of socio-economic development and increasing people's income; contributing to making tourism a key economic sector, one of the important pillars and driving forces of socio-economic development.
The country has had 3 Geoparks honored by UNESCO in the network of 195 Global Geoparks in 48 countries, namely Dong Van - Ha Giang Karst Plateau Geopark, Non Nuoc - Cao Bang Geopark and Dak Nong Global Geopark.
In fact, after being recognized as a global Geopark, the areas have greatly contributed to promoting tourism development, increasing revenue, improving income, thereby contributing to conservation and sustainable development of geological heritage and other heritages in named localities.
“In addition to the three Geoparks mentioned above, there are many areas with potential to establish a national Geopark, aiming to establish a UNESCO global Geopark, including Phu Yen province”, Dr Nguyen Van Toan emphasized.
For Phu Yen province, the Geopark spreads across Tuy Hoa city, Dong Hoa, Song Cau towns and Tuy An, Son Hoa, Phu Hoa, Tay Hoa districts, with a focus on Da Dia reef area (Tuy An district).
Another advantage is that in December 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision 1570/QD-TTg approving the task of planning to preserve, repair and restore the special national landscape of Da Dia reef. The scope of planning research includes 808.89 hectares. The planning objective is to fully identify the value and preserve the unique geological values of Da Dia Reef scenic spot; protect water surface resources, biodiversity, geology, geomorphology and cultural heritage of communities in the region; complete the system of records and data as a basis for digital transformation and automation in managing, protecting and promoting the value of the relic; promote the value of Da Dia reef landscape, becoming an attractive tourism destination of Phu Yen province, the South Central region and the whole country; connecting with other historical-cultural relics and scenic spots in the locality, forming a tourism product chain, combining protection and environmental protection, contributing to local socio-economic development; raising awareness and responsibility of the community in preserving the unique values of landscapes and traditional cultural heritage of the region, etc.
Mr Ho Van Tien, Chairman of Phu Yen Tourism Association said: Rich natural and human resources, biodiversity, and unique geological features are favorable conditions to develop a sustainable model based on the title of Global Geopark. We really hope that the Global Geopark in Phu Yen province will soon be established and recognized by UNESCO to make an important contribution to sustainable tourism development in the province, protect the environment and promote its own and unique values; aiming to develop Phu Yen into a regional tourism center and tourism to become a key economic sector of the province.
Translated by Trinh Thuy
