Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 16
Metamorphic rock hill in
Songshan geopark
Environment Department of MLR
2011
). With the con-
struction of geoparks, the public began to realize the
importance of protecting both sites of geoheritage sig-
ni
cance and the environment, resulting in many more
people now taking part in thework. In addition people are
made aware of the importance of geoheritage and the
economic bene
ts it brings, thus improving awareness of
environmental protection work and, as such, sites of
geoheritage signi
cance are being effectively protected.
(2)
Popularization and education of the Geosciences
According to statistics from the 140 National geoparks,
more than 20,000 explanation panels have been
installed, and more than 5 million copies of scienti
c
booklets, and pamphlets etc. have been produced
(Geological Environment Department of MLR
2011
).
More than 16,000 scienti
c activities have been held,
including more than 600 of these for children. Geo-
parks have become the base for geosciences populari-
zation,
c understanding of the
development of a park allows people to obtain scienti
and the
scienti
c
knowledge combined with leisure. A geopark is not
only a place for tourism, but also a garden for education
and promotion of geoscience, which is becoming well
received by the public.
(3)
Boost economic development
Geoparks provide a national platform for local gov-
ernment, which promotes the development of tourism,
the raising of income, the creation of more employment
opportunities, and thus the changing of the local eco-
nomic structure. Geoparks have become a new source
of economic development. According to the statistics,
Fig. 17
Fault block mountain in Taishan geopark
4
Achievements of Chinese Geoparks
In the past decade, there has been rapid development of
Chinese geoparks (Geological Environment Department of
MLR
2002
; Jiang et al.
2006
). The primary objectives of the
geoparks are as follows.
(1)
Promote the protection of sites of geoheritage signi
cance
The national geoparks are distributed in 31 provinces,
with a total area of more than 70,000 km
2
(Geological
