Regulations on the Protection and Management of Geological Relics in Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark

Article 1: In order to strengthen the management of geological relics within the Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the Mineral Resources Law of the People's Republic of China, the Geological Environment Protection Regulations of Henan Province, and the Notice of the Ministry of Land and Resources on Strengthening the Construction and Management of World Geoparks and National Geoparks, and in combination with the actual situation of the Wangwushan Daimeishan World Geopark, this regulation is formulated.

Article 2: The geological relics referred to in these regulations refer to precious and non renewable geological and natural heritage formed, developed, and left over during the long geological history of the Earth's evolution due to various internal and external dynamic geological processes. Geological relics are recognized by the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China.

Article 3: The ownership of geological relics belongs to the state. Without approval, no unit or individual shall possess or use geological relic resources. Any unit or individual who uses geological heritage resources shall apply to the geological park management agency, and after being approved by the Provincial Department of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Land and Resources in accordance with the law, the approval procedures shall be handled in accordance with legal procedures.

Article 4: Strengthen the protection and construction of important geological relics and landscapes within the park, set up boundary markers and explanatory signs at the main entrance of the protected area, introduce the name, scientific value, and protection value of geological relics, and enhance people's awareness of protection.

Article 5: The protected geological relics are precious treasures of the state, and no unit or individual shall destroy, excavate, trade or transfer them in any other form.

Article 6: In accordance with the requirements for the protection of geological relics, unified identification shall be used within the park, such as the name of the geological park, the name of the park, and the name of the scenic area. The names of geological park parks and scenic spots are protected by law, and no unit or individual may use them without authorization from the park management agency.

Article 7: The protection of geological relics is a part of environmental protection and should adhere to the principle of "protection first and rational development".

Article 8: Special level protection, first level protection, second level protection, and third level protection may be implemented for geological relics within the protected area.

Special level protection: Special level protection is implemented for geological relics with extremely rare and important scientific value both internationally and domestically, and entry is not allowed without approval. After the approval of the Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark Management Committee, which has established a special level geological heritage protection area, scientific research, research or international exchange activities can be organized.

First level protection: Implement first level protection for geological relics with important scientific value within the park area. After the approval of the Wangwushan Daimeishan World Geopark Management Committee, which established the geological heritage protection area at this level, organized scientific research, teaching, academic exchanges, and appropriate tourism activities can be carried out.

Secondary protection: Implement secondary protection for geological relics with certain value. After approval by the established Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark Management Committee, general tourism activities can be organized.

Third level protection: In addition to the above protection levels, other geological relics that should be protected according to laws and regulations shall be subject to third level protection.

Article 9: The scope and boundaries of the geological heritage protection area shall be determined, fixed signs shall be buried, and a public announcement shall be issued by the Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark Management Committee, which has approved the establishment of the protection area. Without the approval of the original approval authority, no unit or individual shall move or change boundary markers or markers without authorization.

Article 10: Geological heritage management institutions. The Wangwushan Daimeishan World Geopark Management Committee has established a management bureau, which is fully responsible for organizing or coordinating relevant departments to investigate, evaluate, and monitor geological relics in the park. Establish archives for typical geological relics and landforms, strengthen protection, and organize publicity and educational activities on the protection and management of geological relics in geological parks to prevent their destruction or pollution.

Article 11: The following geological relics need to be protected

（1） Various geological profiles and structural features that have significant scientific research value in tracing geological history;

（2） Fossils and their origins that have important scientific research value for the evolution of the Earth or biological evolution;

（3） Unique geological landscapes such as karst, granite peaks, and quartz sandstone peak forests with significant scientific research or ornamental value;

（4） Rocks, minerals, gemstones and their typical production areas with special disciplinary research and ornamental value;

（5） Hot springs, mineral springs with unique medical and health benefits or scientific research value, as well as waterfalls and peculiar springs with special geological significance;

（6） Typical geological disaster relics with scientific research significance, such as ground fissures, ground collapses, landslides, mudslides, etc;

（7） Other geological relics that need to be protected.

Article 12: The geological relics of Wangwushan Daimeishan World Geopark are mainly divided into the following four levels of protection areas:

（1） Special level protection zone: mainly refers to the Tiantan Mountain Special Geological Relics Protection Zone; Yinyugou Sheath Fold Structure Relic Protection Area; Huangbeijiao Crater and Wangwu Mountain Movement Geological Relics Protection Area; Typical profile and biological community protection area of the Mesozoic era at Fengmenkou; Shizu Mountain Typical Mineral Protection Area; Daimei Mountain Daimei Iron Mine and Daimei Meadow Protection Area.

Protected heritage sites: The Tiantan Mountain Fangshan and Tiantan Mountain overlap and unconformity interface in the Tiantan Mountain Scenic Area; The profile of the Xiaogoubei Formation in the Xiaogou background area, the Wangwu movement interface, and the Huangbeijiao ancient volcanic crater; The Triassic section, Jurassic section, Caogou silicified lignite group, Anyao ironified lignite group, and bivalve fossil group of Fengmenkou Scenic Area; Qianzhangling silicified wood group, Yellow River Bali Gorge in Bali Gorge Scenic Area, and Jingzi Mountain; Tianbei Stone, Tianshu Stone, Huxue Valley and Foguang Luohan Cliff in Longtan Gorge Scenic Area.

（2） First level protection zone: mainly refers to the Tieshan Hexi Geological Relics Protection Zone and the Longtanxia Protection Zone.

Protected heritage sites: the structural profile of Tiantan Mountain, Yingmen Gongyan Formation, Caozhuangyan Formation, and Fengmenkou Fault profile of Tiantan Mountain Scenic Area in Tiantan Mountain Park; The Xiyang River Group profile in the Xiaogou background area, the Yindong River volcanic rock canyon, and the Heilong Gorge barrier valley; Fossils of ancient organisms such as silicified wood and bivalves in the Fengmenkou Park; Daimei Mountain, Daimei Canyon, and Longtan Canyon in the Three Gorges Park of the Yellow River.

（3） Second level protected areas: mainly refer to other areas within each scenic area except for the forest on both sides of the road and the planned tourist service area. Protected Site: Zhong'e'ao Volcanic Bomb Site Protection Area; Baipoya Landslide Relic Protection Area; Suhe Large scale Silicified Wood Relics Protection Area.

Article 13: No unit or individual shall engage in activities such as quarrying, soil sampling, mining, grazing, logging, or other activities that may cause damage to the protected objects within the protected area or within a certain range that may affect geological relics. Without the approval of the management agency, specimens and fossils shall not be collected within the protected area.

Article 14: No factory buildings or other building facilities unrelated to the protection of geological relics shall be built within the protected area; Facilities that have been built and may cause pollution or damage to geological relics should be treated or closed for relocation within a specified period of time.

Article 15: The Wangwushan-Daimeishan World Geopark Management Bureau shall, in accordance with the requirements of the management committee and based on the degree of protection of geological relics, approve units or individuals to engage in scientific research, teaching, and tourism activities within the scope of geological relics protection areas. The scientific research achievements obtained should be submitted to the geological heritage protection and management agency for archiving.

Article 16: Geological relics protection and management institutions may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Nature Reserves, the Regulations on the Protection and Management of Geological Relics, and the Regulations on the Protection of Geological Environment in Henan Province, in conjunction with relevant departments, give warnings, fines, confiscate illegal gains, and order compensation for losses according to different circumstances.

（1） Unauthorized movement and destruction of boundary markers and markers;

（2） Engaging in quarrying, soil sampling, mining, grazing, logging, and collecting specimens and fossils;

（3） Causing pollution and damage to geological relics;

（4） Those who do not comply with the management of the protection management agency and engage in scientific research activities without submitting copies of their research results to the management unit.

Article 17: Those who neglect their duties, engage in self theft, and damage geological relics by management personnel shall be given administrative sanctions by the higher-level administrative department. Those who commit crimes shall be held criminally responsible in accordance with the law.

Article 18: These regulations shall come into effect from the date of promulgation.

Jiyuan Municipal People's Government

Issued on June 21, 2012