{"id":16642,"date":"2026-05-09T08:04:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T02:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=16642"},"modified":"2026-05-09T08:04:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T02:19:45","slug":"chinas-skula-mountain-listed-as-a-unesco-global-geopark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=16642","title":{"rendered":"China’s Skula Mountain Listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beijing. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated Skula Mountain, located in the Rangpa region of China’s Sichuan Province, as a Global Geopark. The certificate of recognition was formally handed over on April 27.<\/p>\n

Skula Mountain is the first Global Geopark situated on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. It is also the only geopark in the world with the highest concentration of mountain peaks exceeding 5,000 metres in elevation. With this recognition, a “gold medal” of international standing has been added to China’s ecological civilisation building efforts.<\/p>\n

The Skula Mountain Global Geopark lies within Batsanlha County, under the Rangpa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. Positioned in the transitional zone between the Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, this geopark represents a “grand archive of the Earth” spanning hundreds of millions of years. It is also referred to as a “geological museum” for the study of the Tibetan Plateau.<\/p>\n

According to researcher Zhang Yuanhai from the Institute of Mineral Geology at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, inscription as a Global Geopark requires fulfilling three fundamental criteria: the value of geological heritage, the value of biodiversity, and the value of cultural heritage. Skula Geopark lies at the structural heart of China’s western terrain. It features reconstructed sedimentary rock formations of the western landmass groups, the mountain peaks of the Tibetan Plateau’s eastern margin, and distinctive glacial landforms.<\/p>\n

A defining characteristic of this area is that it records the sequence of geological transformation from the Tethys Sea to the uplift of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Zhang noted that its scientific value and global comparative significance are immense.<\/p>\n

Following its designation as a Global Geopark, the original character of the geological heritage and ecological environment of the area must be preserved. To this end, the Skula Global Geopark Application Team joined forces with scientific bodies such as the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Physical Geography, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Nanjing University to conduct over 30 phased surveys across the mountains and forests. Through these efforts, three world-level, eleven national-level, and forty-six regional-level geological heritage sites were systematically identified and documented.<\/p>\n

By illuminating the integrated value of geology, ecology, and culture, a robust data foundation has been laid for scientific conservation, science communication and education, and sustainable utilisation.<\/p>\n

A Global Geopark is a realm of sustainable development, not a closed-off “preserve.” UNESCO has stressed the need to balance conservation and development by promoting community participation, cultural and tourism integration, and green development.<\/p>\n

For the region, it has been recommended to actively engage in community-based tourism services, the revitalisation of folk traditions, the export of specialty products, and science communication outreach. It has also been suggested to promote local specialty products such as Batsanlha’s red apples, high-altitude roses, and the traditional beverages of the Qiang people, thereby ensuring sustained income growth for the local population while unifying ecological conservation, green development, and the improvement of livelihoods.<\/p>\n

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