Annual Report of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark in 2016

1. GEOPARK IDENTITY

Geopark name, country, regional Network: Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark (CHINA, APGN)

Year of inscription 2008/ Year of the last revalidation 2016

Representative Photo (from the most important event this year)

Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark Area Extension Evaluation

2. GEOPARK FIGURES

Number of Geopark staffs: 250 staffs including 9 geoscientist(s)

Number of Visitors: 1,079,600 visitors to geopark museums and visitor centers

Number of Geopark events: 71

Geopark promotion and training course (12); Students cultural exchange program between Zigong Geopark and Hong Kong Geopark (1); Salt museum classroom (6); Salt story exhibition (12); Dinosaur education course (15); Bird watching lecture (1); Puppet show: Where did the dinosaurs go? (15); Sleepless in the museum (1); Oriental palace lecture (3); Geopark little guide (1); The fossil forum of South Silk Road (1); Geotourism activity: Cross Zigong Global Geopark (1); The academic forum of China salt history research (1); The 8th academic symposium of Cultur Alrelic Academy China (1).

Number school classes realize Geopark educational programmes: more than 20.

Number of Geopark press release: 88 in Zigong Geopark website

3. GEOPARK ACTIVITIES (bulletize)

Major achievements in 2016

A.Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark Area Extension Evaluation

B.Complete The investigation report of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark;

C.Complete The development plan of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark (2016-2025);

D.Complete infrastructure construction within the new geopark boundary；

E.Design and published new geopark materials, including multilingual geopark brochures, geopark guide books, student books (for different ages), cartoon book, electric book, 3 geopark promotion video, and 3 education video (one 4D cartoon movie, and two 3D movie).

Contribution towards GGN - Networking and Participation

A.Participated in the 1st and the 2nd International Training Course on UNESCO Global Geoparks, delivered oral presentations;

B.Participated in the CGN annual meeting;

C.Participated in the 7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geopark in English Riveria, delivered 2 oral presentations and 1 post presentation, Sun Li as the election committee member of GGN;

D.Participated in the Symposium of China Global Geopark evaluation and revalidation, delivered oral presentation;

E.Geopark school students exchange program with Hong Kong Geopark;

F.Cooperation and communication within CGN members include Danxiashan Geopark, Xingwen Geopark, Dunhuang Geopark, etc.

Management and Financial status

Managed by Administration for Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Geopark received grants of RMB 8.8648 million from governments at all levels, with tourism revenue of RMB 89.3007 million and total expenditure of RMB 100.9651 million.

Geoconservation

Established 1 fossil conservation station, 1 fossil conservation village; complete new conservation panels in the extension area; continue fossil conservation material research.

Sustainable tourism (Geotourism)

Developed Shisun Valley, combined with ecological tea planting base, geological sites, cultural sites, and also leisure tourism, include 2 geopark agritainments, 1 geopark enterprise—a tea company.

New Education programmes on geoconservation, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction

A. Geopark school program; B. Geopark community training program; C. Geopark little guide program.

Strategic Partnership

23 geopark partners, include 13 local enterprises, 8 agritainments, 2 geopark schools.

Promotional activities

A.Geotourism activity: Cross Zigong Global Geopark, cooperated with tourism agencies, radio station, television station, mass media, Sina Weibo, Wechat, newspapers within Sichuan Province;

B.The 22nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival (21st January to 8th March, 2016).

4. Contacts:

Manager: Tao Hong    ziggeopark@foxmail.com

Geologist: Peng Guangzhao   ziggeopark@foxmail.com