During July 18-20, two UNESCO experts, Dr. Randall Miller from Canada and Dr. Marko Komac from Slovenia, conducted a detailed evaluation of Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) on the mission for the revalidation of Zhangjiajie UGGp. The mayor of Zhangjiajie City, Mr Liu Gean, held a reception for the two experts and gave a welcome speech at the Progress Report Meeting held in the morning of July 18. The Progress Report Meeting was chaired by Dr. Zhou Zhihua from the National Foretry and Grassland Administration. Representatives from the Center of the National Geoparks Network of China, the Department of Land Resources of Hunan Province, the Forestry Department of Hunan Province and the City of Zhangjiajie, together with all of the administrative staffs and experts of Zhangjiajie UGGp and representatives of local communities, attended the Progress Report Meeting.
Photo 1. Progress Report Meeting
Since becoming a global geopark in 2004, Zhangjiajie has received evaluations three times and this is the fourth time. This evaluation includes indoor and outdoor two parts and was conducted mainly in the means of progress reporting meeting, supporting materials checking, field evaluating, and feedback meeting. After the Progress Report Meeting and supporting materials checking, the two experts conducted a detailed field evaluation along four geo-tour routes located in Jinbianxi, Yuanjiazhai, Tianzishan and Huanglongdong subareas of Zhangjiajie UGGp, focusing mainly on the science-popularization displaying systems and tour-guides' scientific interpretations to visitors. In addition, they also examined the content-layout and scientific interpretations provided in the Museum of Zhangjiajie UGGp, the science-popularization base of Zhangjiajie Landforms set up at Suoxi Central Primary School, and the partners of Zhangjiajie UGGp, typically the Charming Xiangxi Cultural Performance, the main store of Xiang A Mei Company, the workshop of Guai Yao Mei Tujia Brocades, and folk customs and culture performed on the street of Xibujie.
Photo 2. Field evaluation of the science popularization displays and tour-guide's interpretations
Photo 3. Investigation of the geo-science education base in Suoxi Central Primary School
Photo 4. Evaluation of the content layout and interpretations provided in Zhangjiajie UGGp Museum
Photo 5. Experiencing Folk Customs and Culture on Xibujie
In the afternoon of July 20, a feedback meeting was held and the two experts gave a high praise of the work conducted in Zhangjiajie UGGp over the last four year and the corresponding achievements. Importantly, the two experts also provided valuable suggestions for the improvement of Zhangjiajie UGGp. On behalf of the Administrative Committee of Zhangjiajie UGGp and Zhangjiajie City, Mr Zhu Yongwen and Mr Liu Gean provided thankful speeches, respectively. The report of the two experts' evaluation will be discussed in detail by the Executive Board of GGN (Global Geoaprks Network) in Sept. during the 8th International Conference on Global Geoparks in Italy and the final outcome of the revalidation will be decided and announced duing the UNESCO General Assembly scheduled in March, 2019.
Photo 6. Feedback meeting |