The International Workshop on Heritage Values of Ly Son – Sa Huynh Geopark

During 18 – 19 June 2019, Dr Dhiti Tulyatid, Regional Expert, CCOP Technical Secretariat Office; a Member of Thailand National Geopark Committee and a Field Evaluator for Thailand Naitonal Geopark, participated in the International Workshop on Heritage Values of Ly Son – Sa Huynh Aspiring Geopark, at the Central Hotel, Quang Ngai, Vietnam.

Ly Son – Sa Huynh Geopark is located along the 130 km long central coast of Vietnam in Quang Ngai province. The Ly Son – Sa Huynh Geopark covers the area of 2,016 km² with a population of 900,000 covering nine districts of Ly Son, Binh Son, Tra Bong, Tay Tra, Quang Ngai city and coastal communes of Tu Nghia, mo Duc and Duc Pho. In addition, the geopark also covers 2,617 km² of wetland including internal water as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

The event is an opportunity to strengthen scientific evidence on geological and cultural heritage, to further supplement findings from scholars, researchers and policy-makers in a bid to finalize the application dossier to submit UNESCO by the end of 2019 for the recognition of a UNESCO global geopark, as well as to provide necessary information for the conservation, management and development of Ly Son - Sa Huynh Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, and to commemorate the 110^th anniversary of unearthing Sa Huynh Culture.

At the Discussion, Dr Dhiti suggested that:

1. The area needs to have proof of geoheritage that being recognized as international importance;
2. The communities should be educated and be able to educate/communicate with visitors on volcanism (4,000 years volcano is considered as still active) and its potential hazards, as well as other consequence, i.e., earthquake, tsunami, etc.). 
3. Even though there are a number of local products displayed at the meeting’s exhibition, they are still limited to several types and need more thinking on product design and packaging to fit with the theme of Geopark.

Summary for Cooperation:

1. It is a good place for networking among workers, especially on the Asia – Pacific Global Geopark Network (APGN) as a number of people from different AGPN participated in this meeting, i.e., from UNESCO Global Geopark; Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
2. The Network would like to have participants from CCOP TS to join the Sixth Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium to be held in Rinjani – Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark in Indonesia during 3-6 September 2019.
3. Dr Soo-jae Lee encourages CCOP to participate in and host a session during the 9^th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks – 3^rd Ordinary GGN Association General Assembly, Jeju Island UNESCO Global Geopark.