On December 7, the Annual Conference of the UNESCO Global Geoparks in China of 2022 opened in Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan Province. The conference was guided by the Department of Nature Reserves of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Hunan Forestry Bureau, and the People’s Government of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, and co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, National Geopark Network Center, Global Geoparks Network Office, and Xiangxi UGGp. It was held for the first time in a hybrid online and offline format. A total of 41 UGGps and 7 candidate sites across China gathered online to join the grand event, share experiences, and jointly promote the sustainable development of global geoparks. Sanqingshan UGGp actively participated in this event.

At the opening ceremony, online speeches were delivered by Yuan Xiaohong, Second-level Inspector of the Department of Nature Reserve Management, National Forestry and Grassland Administration; Wang Min, Deputy Director of the Geological Heritage Research Office, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; Ma Yan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; and Jin Xiaochi, Vice Chair of the Global Geoparks Network Executive Board.

In the thematic report session, Zhang Jianping, Member of the Global Geoparks Network Executive Board and Professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and Zhang Zhiguang, Senior Engineer of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluator, gave online keynote reports. Nine UNESCO Global Geoparks, including Xiangxi UGGp, Yandangshan UGGp, Danxiashan UGGp, Shilin UGGp, Yimengshan UGGp, Qinling Zhongnanshan UGGp and Zhangye UGGp, shared their experience in the construction and management of global geoparks online.

At the closing ceremony, Ma Yan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, announced that Yimengshan UGGp would be the host of the 2023 Annual Conference of China’s UNESCO Global Geoparks. Long Xiaohua, Governor of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, handed over the conference flag to Yimengshan UGGp

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Sanqingshan UGGp participated online to learn about experts’ analysis of the key points for UNESCO Global Geopark evaluation and revalidation, understand the current situation of geopark application and assessment in recent years, and draw on advanced experience shared by other geoparks in management, protection, construction, promotion and scientific research. This has enriched ideas for the upcoming UGGp revalidation inspection, as well as the sustainable development, construction and management of the geopark.