From 28^th to 30^th of November, the “International Workshop on Cave Protection and Disaster Prevention in 2017” was held in Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, aiming at identifying the approaches to the protection of Karst caves and prevention of disasters. This workshop was hosted by the People’s Government of Wulingyuan District of Zhangjiajie City and the Administrative Committee of Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, and co-organized by the Joint Research Center for Zhangjiajie Geomorphology, the Geopark Management Office of Zhangjiajie City, Zhangjiajie City Museum, Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark Museum and Huanglongdong Cave Tourism Investment CO., Ltd.

 More than 60 participants attended this workshop, including internationally renown experts on Karst caves and the representatives of 10 sister geoparks of Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, which are English Riviera, Bohemian Paradise, Lesvos Island, Jeju Island, Alax, Zhijindong Cave, Wangwushan-Daimeishan, Leye-fengshan, Ningde, and Shennongjia UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Prof. HUANG He-qing, the director of the Joint Research Center for Zhangjiajie Geomorphology, chaired the opening ceremony of the workshop and presented an introduction of the organization of the workshop. Mr. LUO Zhibin, vice-mayor of the People’s Government of Zhangjiajie City, Mr. HOU Tiefu, vice-director of the Administrative Committee of Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geoaprk, Prof. Ibrahim Komoo, vice-president of Global Geoparks Network Bureau, and Prof. HE Qingcheng, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and the coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network all presented welcome addresses.

During the workshop, the representatives of sister geoparks shared their experience on global geoparks management through presenting keynote reports and case discussions. After a detailed investigation of Huanglongdong Cave, a major geoheritage site in Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, the experts and representatives of sister geoparks provided valuable advices for Karst cave protection and disaster prevention, including systematical monitoring, use of cold lights, infrastructure construction, vegetation protection on the top of the cave, etc. In addition, all participants visited Zhangjiajie Global Geopark Museum and Tianzishan and Yuanjiajie geo-regions of Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark.

     After the workshop, Lesvos Island and Shennongjia UNESCO Global Geoparks signed sister agreements with Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark. 

Photo 1. Opening ceremony of the workshop

Photo 2. Prof. Ibrahim Komoo gave advices

 Photo 3. Prof. HE Qingcheng gave advices

Photo 4. Group photo of the workshop