Dak Nong receives UNESCO global geopark title for second time

The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong celebrated the second conferment of the UNESCO global geopark title for its geopark at a ceremony organized by the provincial People’s Committee on Thursday evening.

In his address, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ho Van Muoi said the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark holds a critical role in the province’s socio-economic development strategy.

He noted that local authorities prioritize tourism development based on promoting the park’s natural advantages, cultural values, and unique ecosystems. The work has been identified as one of the three key pillars of the provincial economy.

In a congratulatory video sent to the event, Guy Martini, general secretary of the Global Geopark Network and chairman of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council, lauded Dak Nong's efforts and affirmed UNESCO’s commitment to supporting the province in leveraging the title’s values, turning the heritage into a significant resource for sustainable development.

Earlier, in the afternoon of the same day, a workshop on the geopark and sustainable development goals took place in Dak Nong, bringing together over 150 delegates, including representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.

The Dak Nong geopark has been validated as a member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Network for another four years, from 2024 to 2027. It was first recognized in July 2020, becoming the third to obtain this title in Vietnam, after Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in Ha Giang province and the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in Cao Bang province.

The park covers more than 4,700 sq.km, stretching through six districts and cities, namely Krong No, Cu Jut, Dak Mil, Dak Song, Dak G’Long, and Gia Nghia, equivalent to two-fifths of Dak Nong’s total area.

It is home to 65 geological and geomorphologic heritage sites, including a system of nearly 50 caves with a total length of more than 10,000 metres, craters, and waterfalls.

With a tropical forest ecosystem, the geopark holds typical biodiversity values. This land also preserves many unique cultural, geological, and natural features as well as traces of prehistoric activities.