International symposium on vulcanospeleology convenes in Dak Nong
The authorities of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong and the Vietnam Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources on November 22 co-organised the 20th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology and another seminar on 15 years of geo-park development in Vietnam.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Dak Nong (VNA) – The authorities of the CentralHighlands province of Dak Nong and the Vietnam Institute of Geoscience andMineral Resources on November 22 co-organised the 20th InternationalSymposium on Vulcanospeleology and another seminar on 15 years of geo-parkdevelopment in Vietnam.
Participants discussed such topics as conservation andsustainable development of volcanoes and volcanic caves; the volcanic cavesystem in Vietnam; and regulations on zoning for heritage protection in the DakNong Geopark, the third UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam; amongothers.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister of Natural Resourcesand Environment Tran Hong Ha said the international symposium, the first of itskind taking place in the country, marks a new mile stone in scientificcooperation between Vietnam and other nations housing cave systems worldwide.
Ha hoped the province will attract scientists to research, furtherenhance the value of its cave system and typical cultural values, and shareexperiences contributing to the conservation and effective exploitation of the DakNong geopark.
UNESCO representative in Vietnam Christian Manhartacknowledged Vietnam’s and Dak Nong’s efforts in the conservation andsustainable development of valuable geological heritages.
He stressed a need to organise conferences to exchange newscientific values about volcanoes and volcanic cave systems around the world,and to propose and determine how to effectively preserve and exploit geologicalheritage values.
The Dak Nong geopark, covering 4,760 sq.km. of land, is hometo 65 heritage and geomorphological sites, including volcaniccraters, volcanic caves, and waterfalls. Notably, it houses the largest systemof volcanic caves in Southeast Asia, with more than 50 caves and a total lengthof over 10,000m./.
Located in Dak Nong province in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, the Dak Nong Global Geopark features the typical geological, archaeological, and cultural values as well as biodiversity of the region.
Phu Yen boasts potential to build a geopark accredited by the UNESCO, said experts at a conference held in the south-central province on July 23 regarding international cooperation for the local development of a geopark and sustainable tourism.
A group of experts from the UNESCO had a meeting with leaders of the northern province of Cao Bang on the re-verification of the title of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark.
The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong has become popular to both domestic and foreign visitors after Dak Nong Geopark was recognised as a global geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
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Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) 
