Shilin UNESCO Global Geopark is located in Shilin County, a traditional farming county with fairly good ecological environment. Since it was rated as a Global Geopark in 2004, Shilin Global Geopark Administrative Bureau has always attached great importance to environmental protection.

geopark staff members preparing materials  (photo by Wang Limei )

To raise awareness and introduce green development to the general public, Shilin UGGp conducted environmental protection campaign at the Visitor Center of the Geopark in March 31st, 2022. Staff members of the Geopark distributed related publicity materials such as leaflets, videos, brochures, eco-friendly cotton bags to the visitors to show how climate change can affect our environment and the potential impact on the region, expecting the visitors to cherish unique geoheritage within the Geopark, protect natural environment, choose to live a green and low-carbon life, develop a good habit of conserving energy by starting from the trivial things in their lives. At the same time, the concept of green tourism was widely disseminated among the visitors by the LED screen and broadcasting systems, stressing that tourism activities need to be kept within the limits of the ecology and environment.

distributing leaflets on environmental protection to the visitors (photo by Wang Limei )

Climate change is among the top 10 topics within UNESCO Global Geoparks. As one of the first batch of Geoparks, Shilin has been taking steps to tackle climate change, from cultivating ecological awareness to adding new forests, grasslands and wetlands, and combating air and water pollution. Shilin has made remarkable progress since two decades ago. Green growth was significantly stimulated and Shilin County was rated as National Garden county, National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Area and Natural Oxygen Zone of China.

distributing brochures on Shilin Geopark to the visitors (photo by Wang Limei )

Advanced afforestation and improve the living environment in both urban and rural areas. The quality of surface water met the standard of Class II, the top second tiers in the national five-tier quality system for surface water, ranking first in Kunming City. Awareness among local residents has raised greatly and they actively participated in the resources protection of Shilin UGGp, and ecological progress has greatly improved their lives.

staff members introducing geoheritage of the Geopark to the visitors

UNESCO Global Geoparks are educators on current climate change as well as adopting a best practice approach to utilizing renewable energy. Shilin will promote nature-caring activities and green tourism, try every possible effort to enhance harmonious coexistence between humans and natures. Looking forward, though challenges still remain, Shilin will continue to place ecological protection high on its agenda, do its bit for a green and beautiful China.