On May 5, it was reported that China's first foreign-aided geopark project, the Ngorongoro-Lungai Geopark Technical Assistance and Infrastructure Construction Project, has achieved phased results.

As of now, the technical assistance component is in the final stages and is expected to be completed in November. Most of the construction work has also been completed in the infrastructure assistance sector, and the main structure of the 1,200-square-meter Geopark Museum has been topped out in October 2024, and the internal exhibition layout is currently underway, and it is expected to be fully completed in June 2025. The museum will integrate modern technology with local cultural elements, and systematically display the geological evolution of volcanoes, wildlife ecology and the history of ancient human activities through interactive exhibition panels, fossil specimens and 3D models.

The Ngorongoro-Lungai Geopark is Tanzania's first global geopark and is known for its volcanic landscapes, ancient human remains (such as the Letoli Footprints) and wildlife habitat.

However, the park has long had problems such as imperfect interpretation system, single museum exhibition, and lack of heritage protection facilities, which have seriously affected its scientific communication and tourism value. According to the 2022 UNESCO assessment, if the rectification is not completed within two years, the park will be disqualified as a Global Geopark.

At the critical moment, the Bureau of International Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China took the lead, and jointly launched the construction project in June 2023 in conjunction with the Tianjin Geological Survey Center of the China Geological Survey and the 25th Bureau of China Railway. The project is divided into two parts: technical assistance and infrastructure assistance: the former includes geological heritage survey, master planning and personnel training; The latter covers museum construction, viewing platforms, popular science trails, and facilities for the protection of ancient human relics. This project is not only China's first foreign-aided geopark case, but also a landmark project of China-Africa green cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In July 2024, UNESCO evaluation experts visited the site and affirmed the effectiveness of the rectification, saying that the park "has achieved a qualitative leap in two years". In December of the same year, the Ngorongoro-Lungai Geopark was officially re-evaluated and awarded the "Green Plate", and its status as a Global Geopark was renewed.

The design of the project adopts the method of integrating ecological priority and localization, and in order to reduce the disturbance to the original ecology, the project adopts the concept of "light footprint". Among them, the museum building adopts a prefabricated steel structure to reduce on-site construction pollution; The viewing platform is built in an overhead way to avoid damage to the surface vegetation; The scientific trail is made of local stone, which is in harmony with the natural environment. The park's new signage and digital guide system are available in Swahili, English and Chinese, covering geological genesis, animal behavior, and a "China Aid" sign.

In the future, this geopark will become a showcase of Africa's natural and cultural heritage, as well as an eternal witness to the friendship between China and Tanzania. As Tanzania's Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Pindi Chana, said, "With the help of Chinese friends, the natural beauty of this land can be passed on forever."(This article is from the official website of Seetao www.seetao.com. Reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited. Please indicate Seetao.com + original link when reprinting) Seetao.com Strategy Column Editor/Sun Fengjuan