Annual Report of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark in 2017

1. GEOPARK IDENTITY

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

Year of inscription / Year of the last revalidation: 2008, 2016

Representative Photo (from the most important event this year)

Boundary Travel ofZigong UGGp 2017

2. GEOPARK FIGURES

Number of Geoparkstaffs: 263 staffs including 9 geoscientist(s)

Number of Visitors: 1,378,000 visitors to geopark museums and visitor centers

Number of Geopark events: 124

Boundary travel of ZG UGGp (3); Geopark promotional activities (11); Training courses (12); Museum temporary exhibitions (11); Dinosaur touring exhibitions (3); Community exhibitions(15); Salt museum classroom (3); Sleepless in Dinosaur Museum (2); Dinosaur lectures (21); Symposia (5); Social practice for students (32; 26 for primary and high school, 6 for university); Dinosaur Easter Festival (1); Stamp Issue of China Dinosaur (1); Celebration World Earth Day(1); Celebration World Museum Day(1); Celebration International Children’s Day(1); Celebration National Science Day (1).

Number school classes realize Geoparkeducational programmes: 20+

Number of Geoparkpress release: 5 books, 25 papers (4 SCI).

3. GEOPARK ACTIVITIES

Major achivements in 2017

A. Hosted ZG UGGp Boundary travel activities for students, experts and media.

B. Hosted promotional activities and participated international trade fair for tourism.

C. Cooperated with media, such as CITV, BBC, etc. in order to promote geopark.

D. Hosted the Stamp Issue ceremony of China Dinosaur.

E. Concluded 2 European sister geoparks, include Lesvos Island UGGp, and Maestrazgo Geopark.

F. Open and operate the GGN Weibo account in China.

Contribution towards GGN - Networking and Participation

A. Participated the 14th European Geoparks Network Conference in Azores UGGp, delivered oral presentations.

B. Participated the 5th APGN Sympsium in Zhijingdong Cave UGGp, delivered oral presentation; Li SUN was elected as member of APGN AC.

C. Participated the 3rd International Training Course on UNESCO Global Geoparks, delivered oral presentation; Li SUN assisted as a translator.

D. Participated the Geopark class engaged in research and advanced study, sharing experience of Zigong UGGp’s extension.

E. Concluded 4 sister geoparks in 2017, include Xingyi National Geopark of China, Guangwushan - Nuoshuihe National Geopark of China, Lesvos Island UGGp of Greece, Maestrazgo Geopark of Spain.

F. Invited Prof. Nickolas Zouros to visit Zigong UGGp and deliver geopark course for geopark staff and partners.

G. Geopark staff exchangeprogram with Alxa UGGp;Shared geopark experiences with sister geoparks, such as Xingyi Geopark, Xingwen Geopark, Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe Geopark, etc.

H. Li SUN accomplished the revalidation mission in Psiloritis.

Management and Financial status

Managed by Administration for Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Geopark received grants of RMB 9.4433 million from governments at all levels, with tourism revenue of RMB 94.3940 million and total expenditure of RMB 103.9070 million.

Geoconservation

A. Launched field investigation for fossils, discovered 10 fossil sites (8 effective), 1 dinosaur footprint site.

B. Invited Prof. Nickolas Zouros to give on-site guidance for the conservation work.

C. Collected 6 precious fossil specimens, accepted donation of 10 fossil specimens, and increased 95 fossil specimens.

D. Accomplished the acceptance checks of geoconservation projects over the years.

E. Accomplished the project proposals for geoconservation funds.

Sustainable tourism (Geotourism)

Continually support for the agritainments, ecological tea basement and communities within Zigong UGGp.

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

A. Geopark Volunteers Program.

B. Geopark Promotion Program.

Strategic Partnership

Reviewed for the old Partnership contract.

Promotional activities

A. Boundary Travel of Zigong UGGp, including more than 500 students, experts and media workers, visited important geosites and geopark partners in order to promote the conception of geopark, the new boundary of Zigong UGGp, and the history and characteristic of geoheritage within the new geopark boundary.

B. The promotion activities for Zigong UGGp and the 23thZigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in 8 cities (Beijing, Chongqing, Zhaotong, Chengdu, Mianyang, Bazhong, Dazhou, Guang’an), cooperated with tourism agencies, radio station, television station, mass media, Sina Weibo, Wechat, newspapers;

C. Propagated Zigong UGGp through various media, cooperated with CITV, BBC, etc.

D. The 23thZigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival (20January to 15th March, 2017).

E. Participated the 4th Sichuan International Travel Expo, etc.

4. Contacts:

Manager: Tao Hong, ziggeopark@foxmail.com

Geologist: Peng Guangzhao, ziggeopark@foxmail.com