Eight Chinese parks put on UNESCO's first geoparks list

BEIJING (AFP) Feb 15, 2004
Eight Chinese parks have been named on a list of 28 sites worldwide designated as "geoparks" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), state media reported Sunday.

Geoparks, short for geological parks, are territories that have unique geological landforms.

Local park authorities expect the geopark listing -- the first drawn up by UNESCO -- will bring an increasing number of domestic and foreign visitors to the eight Chinese locations, Xinhua said.

The ministry of land and resources officially launched the UNESCO geopark program in China in 1999 and the country has established 44 national geoparks to date.

The Geological Society of China has also played an active role, creating national geopark standards, an evaluation system and criteria for construction and management, Xinhua said.

TERRA.WIRE