Cao Bang (VNA) – Non Nuoc Cao Bangreceived the global geopark status from the UNESCO at a ceremony held in thenorthern border province of Cao Bang on November 24.
Non Nuoc Cao Bang is about 300km from Hanoi capitalcity. It covers more than 3,000 sq.km. in the districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh,Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang and Phuc Hoa and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binhand Thach An districts.
The geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment,volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can giveresearchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. Itis also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and floraspecies.
Non Nuoc Cao Bang was established in 2015. InNovember 2016, Cao Bang submitted a dossier to UNESCO to seek the globalgeopark recognition. A survey team of UNESCO came to the province in July 2017to make assessment of the park’s values and conservation work.
It is now the second UNESCO-recognised GlobalGeopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was accredited in 2010.The park is also the eight of its kind in Southeast Asia to receive the status.
At the event, the province announced the historicalrelic site of 1950 Border Victory in Thach An district as a special national relicsite. The border campaign was the first large-scale battle of the VietnamPeople’s Army against the French army during the war. As the first and onlycampaign that saw President Ho Chi Minh on the front line, its victory marked aturning point leading to the final victory of Vietnam in its past struggleagainst France.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc stressed the importance of the UNESCO recognition, saying it means Vietnamhas another national trademark in terms of landscape and geology atinternational level.
He recommended Cao Bang to build up a tourismdevelopment model that should combine cultural and historical values,patriotism, natural landscapes, and cuisine, among others, thus creatingdiversity and identity.
The PM emphasised the need for Cao Bang to take innovativemeasures to turn heritage preservation and promotion into a livelihood, helpinglocal residents have better living standard.-VNA