Dong Van Geopark, Territorial analysis and Development Guidelines

ĐỒNG VĂN GEOPARK, TERRITORIAL ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

GUY MARTINI¹, TRẦN TÂN VĂN²,

NGUYỄN ĐẠI TRUNG² AND VŨ VĂN TÍCH³

¹Global Geopark Network - GGN

²Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources - VIGMR

³Việt Nam National University – VNU

Abstract: Between 2001-2009, VIGMR in cooperation with Belgian scientists and speleologists along with the support of Ha Giang People’s Committee (HGPC) studied the geological heritage potential of northern Ha Giang province in view of developing and establishing a Geopark. At the end of 2009, these institutions presented with the support of UNESCO Việt Nam NatCom their project to the National Institution who approved in as the first national geopark in Việt Nam on date, and subsequently to UNESCO who confirmed integration of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark (DVG) inside its Global Geopark Network (GGN) on 3.10.2010.

In November 2010, HGPC requested a GGN mission to analyse the current DVG situation and to define the strategic priorities for a future global Master Plan. The four month GGNmission began in late March 2011 and was carried out with the strong support of HGPC, VIGMR, Hanoi University, UNESCO Việt Nam National Commission, the DVG Management Board and team.