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 organised by the provincial People’s Committee on December 26 evening.
A certificate of UNESCO global geopark title is presented to Dak Nong leaders. (Photo: VNA)
Dak Nong (VNA) – 😼The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong celebrated the second conferment of the UNESCO global geopark title for its geopark at a ceremony organised by the provincial People’s Committee on December 26 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 the local authorities prioritise 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 recognised 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./.
The revalidation reflects Dak Nong’s efforts to protect and promote the values of the geopark and offers an opportunity to attract resources for the province’s sustainable socio-economic development.
The recent recognition of the Lang Son as a UNESCO Global Geopark is expected to help the northern province gain momentum and mobilise resources for enhancing the management, preservation, and promotion of the geopark, along with its biodiversity, historical and cultural values, and scenic landscapes.
The northern mountainous province of Cao Bang has made significant efforts to preserve the heritage values of its Non nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, aiming to foster sustainable tourism development.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
