Efforts to establish a global geopark in Phu Yen

Tourists visiting the columnar basalt stone heritage at the national scenic spot Hon Yen complex (An Hoa Hai commune, Tuy An district)

The acceptance of the project aims to determine and evaluate the value of geological heritage and other heritage sites in Phu Yen; build a scientific basis for the application to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark in Phu Yen province.

This is a task approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, chaired by Dr. Nguyen Van Toan (Institute for Research on Agricultural and Rural Planning); the Institute for Research on Agricultural and Rural Planning - Union of Vietnam Science and Technology Associations is the presiding agency. The project will be implemented from March 1, 2021 to August 31, 2023, with a total budget of more than 4.3 billion VND.

Building a scientific basis

According to Dr Nguyen Van Toan, in our country there are 3 Geoparks honored by UNESCO in the UNESCO global network of 195 Geoparks in 48 countries: Dong Van Stone Plateau Geopark - Ha Giang, Non Nuoc - Cao Bang Geopark and Dak Nong Global Geopark.

Practical experience shows that after being recognized as a global Geopark, areas have greatly contributed to promoting tourism development, increasing revenue, improving income, thereby contributing to conservation and sustainable development of geological heritage and other heritage in named localities.

In addition to the three Geoparks mentioned above, there are many areas with potential to establish a national Geopark, aiming to establish a UNESCO global Geopark, including the coastal area of Phu Yen.

Also according to Dr Nguyen Van Toan, Phu Yen has a unique geological and geomorphological heritage, reflecting the characteristics of ancient metamorphic rocks from about 2.5 billion to 542 million years ago.

In addition, Phu Yen also has a properous history and unique cultural depth with architectural works, customs, traditional craft villages and abundant cuisine.

With such a geographical location and cultural characteristics, Phu Yen has many favorable conditions to develop a sustainable model based on the title of Geopark, especially in localities such as: Song Cau town, Dong Hoa town, Tuy An district, Phu Hoa district, Tay Hoa district, Tuy Hoa city and some coastal islands of the province.

Moreover, Phu Yen also has diversity in geological structure, lithology, topography, and geomorphology, creating many attractive and majestic landscapes. At the same time, it is the convergence of tectonic zones, with a long history of development from the Pre-Cambrian to the present day.

Along with the participation of most geological processes such as magma (intrusion, eruption), metamorphosis; sediment (river, lake, sea, wind); Tectonic activities such as compression and extension with systems of faults and fissures in many different directions combined with the carving of exogenous processes (weathering, denudation, abrasion, material transport rivers, streams, windy seas...) revealing the diversity of formations that create the uniqueness of the landscape and topography of the area. Some famous landscapes are recognized such as O Loan lagoon, Da Dia reef, Xuan Dai bay...

Columnar basalt outcrops, metamorphic rocks, and extrusive rocks are rock heritage sites with unique, aesthetic, and geological scientific value. Aside from that, there are also many valuable tangible, intangible, archaeological and biological cultural relics that make up the value of the area and deserve to be established as a Geopark.

“This scientific mission has achieved remarkable results such as: Assessing the value of geological heritage and other heritage sites in Phu Yen province; assessing the prospects of establishing a UNESCO Global Geopark in Phu Yen; synthesizing orientations and propose solutions to preserve, manage, exploit and sustainably develop geological heritage and other heritage sites; the database on geological heritage and other heritage in the area expected to establish the UNESCO Global Geopark in Phu Yen includes spatial data with 5 maps: Geological heritage distribution, heritage distribution material culture; distribution of intangible cultural heritage; geological, cultural and historical tourism orientation; ecosystem distribution, software applications to support database management and exploitation", Dr Nguyen Van Toan added.

Developing tourism based on geological heritage values

According to Dr Nguyen Huu Xuan, Quy Nhon University, in order for Phu Yen to move towards establishing a Geopark, the Geopark planning area needs to awaken great potentials, overcome limitations, risks and negative impacts of globalization, climate change and the downsides of the market economy.

Simultaneously, the construction and establishment of a Geopark must be closely associated with protecting national security and sovereignty. Parallel to that, it is necessary to research and invest in developing intra-regional and multi-industry linked tours including geological heritage; historical cultural heritage of interference between Sa Huynh and Champa cultures, Vietnamese culture and biodiversity. Only then can we create sustainable development, bring jobs and income, and contribute to quickly improving people's lives.

“The construction to establish a Global Geopark in Phu Yen province towards the title of UNESCO Global Geopark is extremely important as it creates a breakthrough in creating a national and international brand, promoting tourism and enhance the integration of the province", Dr Nguyen Huu Xuan informed.

Although it is a province that is behind in building a Geopark, Phu Yen has the advantage of learning lessons from previous localities, including the issue of sustainable tourism, to be able to design a scientific development strategy, vision, foresight and mitigation of negative impacts encountered during the development process.

It is a matter of scientific integration planning among fields; issues of biodiversity conservation, geological value conservation, and landscape conservation before tourists. These are also social issues related to livelihood transformation, indigenous cultural transformation towards commercialization...

“Nature and history have bestowed Phu Yen with unique geological resources, cultural and historical heritage properous in identity and an ecosystem of human significance. What Phu Yen needs to do is to promote these values in the right direction in a comprehensive, high economic efficiency with a long-term and sustainable vision, through the selection of appropriate development models and strategies. Currently, Phu Yen is implementing provincial planning for the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050. This is a favorable condition for Phu Yen to plan in detail and build Phu Yen Geopark", Mr Duong Binh Phu, Director Department of Science and Technology emphasized.

Translated by Hai Loan