In order to celebrate the first International
Geodiversity Day and promote more public attention to the earth, climate change
and environmental crisis, nine Chinese UGGps including Tianzhushan in Anhui
Province jointly launched the first International Geodiversity Day science
popularization activity with the theme of "International Geodiversity Day
-- Appreciate the Beauty of Geoparks" on October 6th. In 2021,
the 41st UNESCO General Assembly designated October 6th as
International Geodiversity Day, aiming to give humanity access to sustainable
development solutions through geosciences education and to address the
increasingly pressing challenges of environmental degradation through actions
such as responsible resource exploitation, disaster risk reduction, mitigation
of climate change and biodiversity loss. Geoparks are popular among the public
as natural resource science popularization bases with rich geoheritages,
beautiful geo-landscapes and excellent eco-environments. They are
responsible for promoting the public to pay attention to geodiversity, caring
for the earth and disseminating geosciences. They also become the main force to
publicize the first International Geodiversity Day.
This activity was hosted by Natural Resources Science
Popularization Office (hereinafter referred to as the Office), co-held by nine
Chinese UGGps, including Tianzhushan, Danxiashan, Yandangshan, Zhangjiajie,
Yanqing, Shilin, Taishan, Leiqiong and Longyan UGGps, which would carry out a
series of thematic activities in October. On Oct. 6th, a science
popularization lecture on “Geologists take you to enjoy the beauty of
geodiversity” and a live streaming on “Geologists took you to have a cloud
visit to the geoparks” were held.
Mr. Jin Xiaochi, APGN President and
researcher of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, delivered a speech to introduce the
background and significance of the International Geodiversity Day, shared APGN achievements
and demonstrated the beauty of Asia-Pacific geodiversity. He commended and
called on all UGGps to take actions to arouse more public
attention to the earth and climate change through colorful science
popularization activities. Mr. Zheng Yuan, director of Chinese Geoparks Network
Office, gave a report titled "Colorful UNESCO Global Geoparks in
China", showed the geological characteristics and magnificent
landscapes of 41 UGGps and promising UGGps in China from
the perspective of geological structures and landforms, letting the
public appreciate the magnificent scenery created by the geological evolution on China’s land in
the past 4 billion years, as well as the biodiversity and cultural
heritage of the geoparks, and feel the beauty of China's geodiversity.
Professor Su Dechen, chief science popularization expert of Natural Resources
and researcher of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, gave a popular
science lecture titled "Geological Beauty and Earth Exploration" to
the public, sharing the causes and secrets of various geological landforms such
as granite, volcano, Danxia and karst landform. Then, 9 geoparks were
connected in the live broadcast room, and an online interactive
science popularization was carried out through Tencent Conference, Xiaoetong, Tik-Tok,
Kuaishou, Xigua video and other platforms. Fourteen interpreters from
9 geoparks introduced more than 20 magnificent geosites online,
guided the public to the typical geological landscape in the form of cloud
tour, and put forward geological questions most concerned by tourists to
Professor Su Decchen, who answered them on the spot.
On October 8th, Tianzhushan Geopark organized teachers
and students from Tianzhushan Central School to visit Tianzhushan Geopark Museum,
and invited Professor Wu Weiping from Geological Survey Institute of Anhui
Province to give a lecture on the diverse geological landscapes of 41 Chinese
UGGps.