By Koh Hyunjeong

The newly announced KGA (Key Geoheritage Areas) Korea Declaration defines geological heritage as a common asset of humanity and upholds the principal that the world must jointly conserve it.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on May 27 said this in proclaiming the declaration at the international symposium "K-Geoheritage: Current Status and Future Perspectives" at the convention center BEXCO in Busan's Haeundae-gu District.

KGA refers to areas with major geological and geomorphological features like rocks, minerals, fossils, sediment, soil and landforms that hold high global value for understanding Earth's history and the evolution of life. The declaration contains directions for KGA conservation and principles of international cooperation.

The declaration reaffirms geological heritage as a common heritage of humankind and specifies the world's shared responsibilities amid the climate crisis. It also outlines the roles of central governments and the KHS in raising international standards and executing and expanding the KGA program.

About 150 experts and figures from international organizations attended the symposium including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Global Geoparks Network and International Union of Geological Sciences. They discussed strategies and cooperation measures to advance the KGA initiative.

The KHS said, "This declaration will offer the opportunity to set a mid- to long-term policy basis for the KGA initiative and boost the system for geological heritage preservation."

hjkoh@korea.kr