Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Prepares for 2027 Review

The event brings together around 50 participants from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in Vietnam, the Dak Nong Cultural and Geopark Management Center, and officials from 22 communes and wards within the geopark in Lam Dong Province.

Following the administrative restructuring and establishment of the new Lam Dong Province, the management area, organizational structures and local personnel within the geopark have undergone significant changes.

At the same time, the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark is preparing for its next UNESCO revalidation in 2027. Updating knowledge, building a common understanding and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of local authorities have therefore become increasingly important.

Strengthening management capacity at the grassroots level

At the conference, experts from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in Vietnam are introducing participants to the formation and development of the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark, as well as its outstanding geological, cultural, biological and landscape values.

Participants are also discussing geopark management, the responsibilities of local authorities, the implementation of UNESCO recommendations and preparations for the 2027 revalidation.

The training is designed not only to provide general knowledge but also to help local officials understand how geopark values are connected to everyday governance and community development.

With 22 communes and wards involved, coordinated understanding at the grassroots level is particularly important. Local authorities are directly involved in protecting heritage sites, managing landscapes, working with communities and supporting activities that promote the geopark's values.

Another major focus is how to promote the geopark's heritage values alongside sustainable tourism, create livelihoods for local communities and strengthen residents' role in conserving and promoting local heritage.

Rather than treating conservation and development as separate tasks, the training highlights the need to connect heritage protection with tourism, education, community participation and local economic development.

Linking heritage conservation with sustainable tourism

Alongside theoretical sessions, the conference provides opportunities for participants to discuss practical difficulties and emerging issues in managing the geopark at the local level.

These discussions allow local officials to share experiences and identify issues that may require closer coordination between communes, wards and specialized agencies.

Participants are also taking part in field surveys of several representative heritage sites within the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark.

The practical activities provide local officials with a more direct understanding of the area's heritage values while helping them identify what needs to be conserved, promoted or improved at individual sites.

For a geopark whose values extend from volcanic landscapes and geological formations to biodiversity and cultural heritage, effective management requires more than protecting individual attractions.

It also involves maintaining the connections between natural landscapes, communities and cultural practices, while ensuring that tourism activities do not undermine the resources on which those experiences depend.

Building coordinated management across the geopark

Through the training and field surveys, local authorities are expected to gain a clearer basis for identifying tasks suited to their specific conditions and gradually improving the management, conservation and promotion of geopark values.

The activities also strengthen coordination among localities within the geopark, helping implement UNESCO recommendations and prepare the necessary conditions for the 2027 revalidation of the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark in Lam Dong Province.

The geopark is a distinctive local heritage asset built around the interaction of geological and geomorphological features, landscapes, cultural values and biodiversity. These values are closely connected with the lives and livelihoods of local communities.

Since receiving UNESCO recognition in 2020, the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark has gradually strengthened its role in promoting the region's landscapes and people while creating opportunities for tourism, education, scientific research, heritage conservation and sustainable socioeconomic development.

As the 2027 revalidation approaches, strengthening local management capacity is therefore an important part of maintaining the geopark's UNESCO status and ensuring that its heritage values continue to generate long-term benefits for communities.