From Aug. 3 to Aug. 5, Mr. Hans-Hartmut Escher and Ms. Gail Campbell Bremner, two evaluators of GGN of UNESCO undertook the revalidation mission in Tianzhushan Global Geopark, China. The revalidation covered different fields, including contributions to GGN, management of the geopark, conservation of geo-heritages, scientific research and science popularization, geotourism, sustainable development of local economy and society, and improvement made on the basis of the recommendations put forward by the evaluators in 2011. The revalidation was carried out by reviewing materials, listening to reports, field investigations and in-depth discussions.

On Aug. 3, the work progress report meeting of the revalidation of Tianzhushan Global Geopark was held in Quanli Hotel, hosted by Ms. Yuan Xiaohong, section chief of Geological Environment Department of Ministry of Land and Resources. Mr. Zheng Yuan, director of National Geoparks Network, Mr. Yan Fei, deputy head of the department of Land and Resources of Anhui Province, leaders from provincial and municipal departments of land and resources, and relevant geologists attended the meeting. During the report meeting, Mr. Zhang Jinsong, on behalf of Qianshan County Committee of CPC, the people’s government of Qianshan County and Tianzhushan Global Geopark, extended his warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the evaluators, and introduced the progress on the conservation, construction and management the geopark had made in the past four years. After listening to the report, the evaluators thought highly of the achievements and discussed with relevant management staffs on the composition of tourists, volunteers and cooperation of science popularization, etc, and reviewed related materials.

From Aug. 4 to Aug. 5, the evaluators made field investigations in the northern area (the granite landform of peak clusters alternating with peak forests) and the southern area (the scientific investigation area of Paleocene fossils) of Tianzhushan Global Geopark, fully affirmed the work about the interpretation system, science popularization galleries, environmental sanitation and geo-tourism, and they also put forward many precious suggestions for the following construction and management of Tianzhushan.

Tianzhushan joined in GGN in September 2011. Qianshan County set up Tianzhushan Geopark Administrative Committee, adopted many measures focusing on protecting the geo-heritage, publicizing geosciences and promoting geotourism to drive local economic development, to highlight the brand of Global Geopark. In the past four years, the geopark has totally invested 320 million yuan on the construction and protection, which has greatly upgraded the popularity and reputation of the geopark, achieving obvious social and economic benefits. Mr. Xia Jikan, deputy secretary of Qianshan County Committee of CPC and executive deputy director of Tianzhushan Geopark Administrative Committee, said Tianzhushan Geopark would put the recommendations into practice, speed up the construction of the geo-museum and the smart tourist center, and further strengthen the management and protection to better inherit the history and bring benefits to the next generations. (Tianzhushan Global Geopark)