Implementing the Project on establishment, construction and development of Lang Son Geopark in the 2021-2025 period, issued together with Decision No. 2386/QĐ-UBND of the Committee. people of Lang Son Province dated December 8, 2021; Plan No. 258/KH-UBND of the People's Committee of Lang Son Province dated December 26, 2022  on the implementation of constructing and developing Lang Son Geopark in 2023, including the task "Building and implementing an education program to raise public awareness about the geological heritage and Lang Son Geopark” (implementation of climate change activities, waste management, alternative use of plastic bottles) and “Building and implementing a propaganda and promotion program to promote Lang Son Geopark” (focusing on propaganda on the role, position, importance and significance of geological and cultural heritages), biodiversity and environmental protection, forest ecosystems in Lang Son Geopark).

According to one of the criteria for UNESCO to recognize a Global Geopark, a Geopark must participate in activities related to adaptation, disaster reduction and climate change mitigation; develop education to mitigate climate change and natural hazards; the Management Board has the capacity and authority to run all activities of the Geopark, provide training programs for guides or Tour Operators working with the Management Board, officials, managers and leaders  actively and officially participate in training activities to improve the capacity and operation of the Geopark; local communities, indigenous people actively and officially participate in the operation of the Geopark, represent in the management structure of the Geopark and participate in the drafting, implementation of actions and Geopark projects; Geoparks transfer knowledge, practices and management systems to the younger generation.

Lang Son Geopark Management Board has coordinated with relevant agencies and units to implement activities to raise public awareness on environmental protection in Lang Son Geopark, specifically as follows:

On February 17, 2022, the Lang Son Geopark Management Board organized the Forum "Climate change and Solutions for Lang Son Geopark" in English, with the participation of representatives of the Divisions of Culture  Sports and Tourism, membersof Lang Son Geopark Management Board, leaders, experts Department of Education and Training, Divisions of Education and Training in districts and the city, leaders, teachers English and students of some high schools in Lang Son province.

At the Forum, students schools in Lang Son Geopark and in Lang Son city presented 15 presentations related to climate change, specifically: An overview of climate change and climate change impacts, National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the role, position, importance and significance of environmental protection, climate change adaptation in Lang Son Geopark, assessment of climate change status, environmental protection in Lang Son Geopark, assessment of impacts of climate change on the archaeological site of Tham Khuyen - Tham Hai Cave, Binh Gia district in Lang Son Geopark area, Solutions to improve resilience to climate change climate change, environmental protection in Lang Son Geopark in particular, in Lang Son province in general; discuss learning sites in Lang Son Geopark.

Students Lang Son Provincial Ethnic Minority High School attended the Forum

Students presented at the Forum

Lang Son Geopark Management Board briefly introduced the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) and Vietnam's strong commitment and responsibility to combat climate change; Mr. Jean Verly, Director of Vietnam Sports and Entertainment Services Joint Stock Company gave a speech "Sport climbing tourism associated with natural resource protection".

The forum was held successfully, contributing to propagating and raising awareness of the province's young generation about global common issues, educating love of nature, protecting the environment and offering solutions to combat climate change for Lang Son Geopark, thereby upholding the sense of responsibility for sustainable socio-economic development in the districts of Lang Son Geopark in particular and Lang Son province in general; create opportunities for students to improve their presentation, discussion and negotiation skills in English, improve their international integration capacity; meet one of the criteria for UNESCO to recognize a Global Geopark as “Geopark must participate in activities related to adaptation, disaster and climate change mitigation; develop education to mitigate climate change and natural hazards”.

June 24 to 28, 2022, Lang Son Geopark Management Board held a short-term training course to improve specialized English knowledge to meet the requirements of Geopark management. Within the framework of the course, trainees performed environmental sanitation at Huu Lien Community Tourism Village, Huu Lung district.

Trainees performed environmental sanitation at Huu Lien Community Tourism Village, Huu Lung district

July 27 to 29, 2022, Lang Son Geopark Management Board organized a training course on Geoheritage and Geopark in 2022 for 200 trainees who are officials, civil servants, public employees, community tourism business households, tourist service establishments, accommodation, restaurants in Bac Son and Huu Lung districts.

Trainees collected garbage at Dong Lam Scenic Area, Huu Lien Commune, Huu Lung District

On January 12, 2023, the Lang Son Geopark Management Board coordinated with the Culture and Information Division of Bac Son District and the People's Committee of Bac Quynh Commune, Bac Son district to organize a community  activity to protect the environment "For a waste-free Bac Quynh commune in New Year 2023".

Bac Quynh commune is 4 km Bac Son town, Bac Son district. The commune currently has nine villages with 976 households and 4328 people. This is a potential area to develop tourism types of Lang Son province in general and Lang Son Geopark in particular, such as ecotourism, resort, spiritual tourism, community tourism and so on. Typically, Quynh Son community tourist site was established in 2010 attracting a lot of tourists to the area.

Environmental protection activity was organized in the form of a contest with nine teams nine villages of Bac Quynh commune including Bac Son, Tham Pat, Don Riec 1, Don Riec 2, Na Rieng, Noi Hoa, Dong Dang, Tri Yen, Tan Son. The  teams cleaning the house to the gate, village roads, alleys, relics,... The contest has attracted the response of a large number of people in the commune. At the end of the contest, the Organizing Committee gave prizes to the five best teams, in which, the first prize belonged to Don Riec 1 village, the second prize belonged to Don Riec 2 village and Tham Pat village, and the third prize belonged to Dong Dang village and the consolation prize belonged to Bac Son village.

On January 13, 2023, Lang Son Geopark Management Board cooperated with the Culture and Information Division, the People's Committee of Van Linh Commune, Phố Cũ  Village, Van Linh Commune, Chi Lang District to successfully organize a community engagement activity to protect the environment "For a waste-free dried noodle craft village in Van Linh commune, Chi Lang district in Lang Son Geopark  in New year 2023".

The environmental protection activity was organized in the form of a contest consisting of five teams cleaning inside the house to the gate, village roads, alleys, relics,... The contest attracted the response of many people in the village. At the end of the contest, the Organizing Committee gave prizes to the teams (one first prize, one second prize, one third prize, two consolation prizes).

The community engagement activity to protect the environment "For a waste-free dried noodle craft village in Van Linh commune, Chi Lang district in Lang Son Geopark  in New year 2023" took place successfully. This is a meaningful activity in New Year 2023, showing the spirit, responsibility, joy and pride of the community in joining hands to protect the environment, towards building the image of a sustainable dried noodle craft village (Lang Son Geopark Management Board is very impressed, highly appreciates the positive spirit and serious attitude of the old men and women at this event; with such a community spirit, the possibility towards a waste-free dried noodle craft village in Van Linh commune in 2023 and the following years is very feasible).

This activitity has contributed to propaganda, raising community awareness, awareness, roles and responsibilities on environmental protection for officials and people; campaigning not to use non-degradable plastic bags or single-use plastic products, using environmentally friendly products and services, not littering, practicing cleaning habits inside the house to the gate, village roads, alleys, relic sites,... Raising awareness about limiting acts of environmental pollution, creating a clean environment landscape of the locality; helping people to be responsible and proud in joining hands to protect the environment, towards building the image of a sustainable Lang Son Geopark; creating a ripple effect in protecting the green, clean and beautiful environment, leaving a good impression on domestic and international tourists when visiting Lang Son Geopark.

Pham Huong