Dong Van Karst Plateau set for fourth UNESCO status renewal

The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council has awarded a 'Green Card' to Dong Van Karst Plateau, paving the way for a fourth consecutive four-year status renewal.

The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council has unanimously awarded a “Green Card” to Dong Van Karst Plateau in Tuyen Quang Province, the highest rating in the periodic revalidation process, paving the way for a fourth consecutive renewal of its UNESCO Global Geopark status for another four years.

According to the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA), the result was announced at the 11th session of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, held from November 2 to 4, 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive time Dong Van Karst Plateau has successfully passed the revalidation process.

Speaking at the session, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to UNESCO, said the result reflected international recognition of local efforts to conserve and promote the site's heritage values.

Notably, conservation efforts have increasingly been linked with sustainable tourism development, creating livelihoods and employment opportunities for local residents, particularly ethnic minority communities.

Ms. Sophie Justice, Chair of the session and Director of the Chablais UNESCO Global Geopark in France, praised the quality of heritage management and conservation at Dong Van Karst Plateau, particularly community participation, the preservation of linguistic diversity and local cultural values. She recommended that the locality continue to prioritise education, tourism and sustainable development, while ensuring the regular involvement of both local authorities and residents.

Ms. Sarah Gamble, a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, also expressed her positive assessment, highlighting the plateau's distinctive landscapes, dedicated management team and efforts to help local residents develop livelihoods, improve their skills and expand business activities.

She further recommended that Dong Van Karst Plateau strengthen connections with the Global Geoparks Network, universities and international partners to share experience and showcase effective models.

From a technical perspective, Dr. Trinh Hai Son, Director of the Viet Nam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Vietnamese Subcommittee on UNESCO Global Geoparks, said Viet Nam had fulfilled three of the five recommendations made during the previous revalidation, while work on the remaining two was ongoing.

Positive results in this assessment were also reflected in the development of local communities, improvements to infrastructure, the preservation of traditional culture and the implementation of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme.

Mr. Kristof Vandenberghe, Head of the Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section at UNESCO, described Dong Van Karst Plateau as an outstanding example of how nature conservation can be combined with socio-economic development. He noted that local residents' active involvement and commitment to protecting the heritage were among the key factors behind the recommendation to renew the geopark's status.

At this session, the Council reviewed 13 applications for new designations, 61 applications for status renewal and four proposals for boundary modifications. The comments and recommendations will be submitted to the UNESCO Executive Board for consideration and formal approval through the established procedure at its scheduled session in April 2027.

The revalidation results reaffirm Tuyen Quang's efforts to link heritage conservation with community development. Moving forward, strengthening the role of local residents, preserving cultural identity and improving tourism quality will remain key priorities for Dong Van Karst Plateau to maintain its international designation.

Minh Hanh