| The Danxia landscapes in Southern China . . . now under consideration... The Danxia landscapes in Southern China . . . now under consideration for World Heritage listing |
Earth scientist’s role in potential World Heritage listing
19 Dec 2007 | Bernie Goldie
A Fellow in UOW’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dr Robert Wray, has just returned from undertaking an evaluation for potential inscription on UNESCO's natural World Heritage list of unusual dissected red sandstone Danxia landscapes in southern China.
Dr Wray has also recently been involved in the scientific selection of sites for Australian Natural Heritage listing.
The recommendations of the investigation of the Danxia landscapes were presented at the 3rd Session of the International Conference on World Natural Heritage held in Emeishan City, China.
Representatives of several Chinese provinces, under the leadership of the Chinese Ministry of Construction, are exploring the feasibility of a serial (or group) application for geological World Heritage Status for selected areas in Southern China where many of the famous sandstone Danxia-Landforms are exposed.
Several of these areas are already respected as National or World Geoparks within UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The Chinese Danxia landscapes are not well known outside China.
Dr Wray said the Chinese Danxia landscapes were unusual and are formed of red-coloured sandstone and pebbly conglomerate rocks and characterised by steep slopes or cliffs of often bare rock.
“Spectacular rock ‘towers’, often several hundred metres tall, waterfalls, narrow canyons and other landscape features characterise many of these areas. Some resemble the famous Chinese limestone tower karst. Many of these areas are also relatively unmodified by humans and often still possess a relatively dense natural forest cover of bamboo and/or broadleaf trees. A range of rare and endangered plants and animals are found at many of these locations,” Dr Wray said.
As a specialist in sandstone geography, geology and geomorphology, and co-author of a forthcoming book on Sandstone Landscapes (to be published by Cambridge University Press), Dr Wray recently spent three weeks in China as a member of a special international expert team consisting of six internationally respected geo-scientists experienced in geomorphology, geology, geoheritage conservation and protected area management, from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, England, Poland and the United States.
Each expert independently visited one or two of seven areas put forward as possible candidate sites by the five provinces interested in being a party to a future serial World Heritage nomination. The Danxia areas are located in the five southern Chinese provinces of Hunan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangxi.
Dr Wray visited the Wanfoshan region of Hunan Province. He also visited the Chishui region of Guizhou Province, another Danxia area that is also attempting to join this group of sites for potential World Heritage listing.
“Both areas displayed great potential geographical and biological for possible World Heritage nomination and both were encouraged to proceed with the application process,” Dr Wray said.
Investigations focused on the suitability of the various areas to satisfy the strict natural World Heritage nomination criteria set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (or IUCN), which acts as the scientific agent for UNESCO with respect to natural heritage protection. Investigations also focused on the ability of the Danxia landforms to demonstrate 'Outstanding Universal Value' -- another, and potentially more difficult, requirement for natural World Heritage listing.
At the end of their field inspections Dr Wray and the other international experts reported their findings at the meeting of the 3rd Session of the International Conference on World Natural Heritage held in Emeishan City, Sichuan Province.
The expert team in most cases agreed with the worthiness for World Heritage nomination of the seven sites inspected and encouraged the Chinese to continue their application. Dr Wray and the other experts also provided a range of observations relating to future work, the most important being:
• To organise an international conference to more clearly define in geological, biological and landscape terms exactly what a Danxia landscape is;
• To undertake a biological assessment of Danxia sites, possibly starting with an international symposium or a working group of national and international biological experts; and
• To undertake a comprehensive study of all Danxia landscapes in China, to ensure that no important sites have been excluded, that potential sites are complementary, and the natural story they tell is complete
An international symposium on Danxia in China is now being organised for October next year and several working groups (including the experts named above) are planning to continue the advancement of the Chinese Danxia World Heritage application.
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