Representative of Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark participated in the revalidation of Idrija UNESCO Global Geopark

The revalidation expert team included Mr. Richard Watson, Senior Expert of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and former Director of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark (Ireland), and Mr. Vi Tran Thuy, Director of the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark.

As part of the program, the expert delegation conducted field surveys at various heritage sites, including: the Idrija Geopark Information Center and the “Writing in Stone” exhibition; the Idrija Mercury Mine; geological and cultural sites in the Kanomlja Valley; the Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park and the Feldban Route; geological, ecological values, river systems, and World War I railway; the Idrijske Krnice Plateau; the Idrija mercury smelting plant; educational and communication sites, and community-based tourism facilities.

In addition, the delegation also participated in educational, tourism, cultural, and community livelihood activities such as: interacting with the women's union and local residents, joining a traditional baking class, and enjoying local products under the collective trademark “Idrija Selected” of the Geopark.

During the revalidation process, the expert team held working sessions with local authorities, the Idrija Geopark Management Board, the Idrija Tourism Council, and the Slovenian National UNESCO Commission to discuss and assess the achievements since the last evaluation in 2021. They conducted a preliminary review of the field survey results at the Idrija UNESCO Global Geopark and evaluated the park’s development in accordance with UNESCO Global Geopark criteria. Based on this, the team proposed solutions to enhance management effectiveness and promote sustainable development of the Idrija Geopark in the coming period.

As a member of the revalidation expert team, Mr. Vi Tran Thuy, Director of the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, actively shared practical experiences from his local geopark, particularly in the fields of geopark education, sustainable tourism development, building a local partner network, and preserving indigenous knowledge.