From September 11 to 15, 2024, the 8th APGN Symposium was held in Cao Bang UGGp, Vietnam. Headed by Mr. SHAO Jiusi, the director of Lushan UGGp Administration Committee, Lushan UGGp delegation was invited to participate the conference. On September 12, 2024, on behalf of Lushan UGGp, Mr. SHAO Jiusi signed the twin geopark MOU with the Tabas UGGp of Iran . The newly signed geoparks agreed to have more cooperation on geo-heritage conservation, geo-science education, geo-tourism, and will visit and exchange with each other.
The twin geopark signing ceremony between Lushan UGGp and Tabas UGGp was held in Cao Bang UGGp Provincial Convention Center, Viet Nam. Mr. SHAO Jiushi, Director of Lushan UGGp Administration Committee, China and Mr. Ehsan Zamanian, member of the Scientific Committee of Tabas UGGp, the representatives of Ms. Vissar Yehia Shebani, Director of Tabas UGGp Administration Committee, Iran, signed the twin geopark MOU on behalf of Lushan UGGp and Tabas UGGp respectively. Mr. HE Qingcheng, executive deputy director of China National Geoparks Network Center, and Dr. Professor Alireza Amrikazemi, scientific coordinator of Qeshm Island UGGp, chairman of National Iranian Geoparks Network (NIGN), UNESCO Global Geoparks Council Member witnessed the signing ceremony.
Tabas UGGp, situated in the desert area of northwest of South Khorasan Province, covered and area of 22,771 km2 , which has been referred to as Iran's geological paradise and fossils museum by numerous geological thinkers and scientists, showcasing the uninterrupted evolution of the planet from the Precambrian to the Early Cretaceous periods.
There are Naybandan Wildlife, the largest wildlife refuge in Iran and the habitat of the Asian cheetah, and the largest habitat of Ferula assa-foetida in Iran and its half growth area of the world in Tabas UGGp.
Tabas UGGp has historically been known as a transportation highway from south and west to east and northeast of Iran due to its special geographical location. This geopark’s unique cultural-historical and natural heritage attracted so many visitors.
As famous tourist attractions with long history and culture, the Lushan UGGp, China and Tabas UGGp, Iran have similarities and complementarity in geopark management and conservation. The cooperation agreement signing marks the establishment of a cooperation mechanism of promoting cultural exchange and understanding between Lushan and Tabas to enhance mutual communication and exchange so as to promote information sharing and mutual promotion in geopark management, geological heritage conservation, tourism resource exploitation, scientific research and popularization, tourism marketing, local sustainable economic and social development so as to enhance the sustainable development of global geopark network and geoparks.