The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) praised Shilin (Stone Forest) as a model global geological park in its recent third semi-stage assessment of the area.

The Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) reviews all World Geoparks every four years to decide whether they still comply with the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks.

A panel of the network will give revamping advice to those with minor problems. Some geological parks in bad condition will be removed from the Geopark list.

Stone Forest was included as a member of the GGN in 2004. It has been reviewed twice since then and received high marks.

The three-day assessment from July 29 to 31 focused on Shilin’s management structure, geologic relic protection, contributions to the world network, S&T popularization and infrastructure construction. The panel gathered information through various channels including listening to reports, searching for data and conducting field visits.

Examiners have handed in assessment reports to UNESCO and are waiting for the result to come out in September.

Edited by Peter Nordinger