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".

This is an activity within the framework of 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.

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.

The community engagement activity to protect the environment "For a waste-free Bac Quynh commune in New Year 2023"contributes to propaganda, raising public awareness, roles and responsibilities for environmental protection for officials and people of Bac Quynh commune; campaigning not to use non-biodegradable plastic bags and 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 areas, maintaining general hygiene... Thereby contributing to limiting the acts of causing 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 and model community-based tourism village in 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