CRI Online, Beijing, April 15 (reported by Wang Zehua, reporter of CNR) - According to a report by CNR of the Central Radio and Television Station, the reporter learned from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration today (April 15) that Changshan in Zhejiang Province and Mt. Siguniang in Sichuan Province successfully passed the review at the 224th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO held in Paris, France, and officially became UNESCO Global Geoparks. As of now, the number of UNESCO Global Geoparks in China has increased to 51.

The Changshan UNESCO Global Geopark, which has passed the review this time, is located at or situated within Changshan County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The park preserves continuous strata from the Neoproterozoic to the Cenozoic eras, and boasts China's first "golden spike" as well as a large number of fossils such as graptolites, trilobites, and conodonts. Its juvenile reef karst, majestic granite peaks, and the beautiful waters of Changshan Port together constitute a unique natural landscape. The Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark is located in Xiaojin County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Situated in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, the park features the "Xikang-style" folds of the Songpan-Ganzi orogenic belt, the "Xikang Group" turbidite flysch formation, the extremely high mountain peaks on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and unique glacial landforms.

River landscape of Changshan Unesco Global Geopark

Yuan Jiming, Director of the Nature Reserve Management Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, introduced: "The area where the Changshan UNESCO Global Geopark is located is one of the regions with the most continuous stratigraphic sequences in the nearly 1 billion-year geological evolution history of eastern Asia. The unique geological and geomorphic features provide a stage for the splendid cultural heritage and lay a natural foundation for the abundant local products. The Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark records the geological evolution process of the region from the ancient Tethyan Ocean to the uplift of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has important scientific value and global comparative significance. Mt. Siguniang also belongs to the global biodiversity hotspot areas and preserves well the Jiarong Tibetan culture."

As Yuan Jiming mentioned, relying on the unique geological and geomorphic features of Changshan, the local development of characteristic ecological agriculture such as Huyou, Xiangyou, and Camellia oleifera has formed an industrial system that drives community prosperity, making the park a model of collaborative community development. Mt. Siguniang is home to over 2,000 species of higher plants, including the world's largest and oldest natural forest of Hippophae rhamnoides, and over 300 species of vertebrates such as Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Uncia uncia. Within the park, there are rich customs such as the Chaoshanhui, Guozhuang dance, and Tibetan song meeting, which have distinct regional characteristics.

Mt. Siguniang (photo provided by Mt. Siguniang Nature Reserve Administration)

Yuan Jiming introduced that in 2015, the 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Statutes of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme, officially establishing the "UNESCO Global Geopark" brand. The aim is to promote the inheritance of global geological heritage values through scientific protection and sustainable utilization. China has also been vigorously promoting the construction and sustainable development of UNESCO Global Geoparks. As of now, the number of UNESCO Global Geoparks in China has increased to 51.

Yuan Jiming stated, "Since the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has been committed to practicing the concept of 'Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets', continuously promoting the construction and sustainable development of UNESCO Global Geoparks, formulating and issuing the 'Regulations on the Management of UNESCO Global Geoparks', strictly regulating management, adhering to the principles of protection priority, adapting to local conditions, highlighting characteristics, actively building a mechanism led by the government, with multi-party participation and social sharing, and achieving the unity of nature conservation, green development, and improvement of people's livelihood. As of now, there are a total of 241 UNESCO Global Geoparks worldwide, distributed in 51 countries. With the addition of the two new sites this time, the number of UNESCO Global Geoparks in China has increased to 51."