Networking

**(please click right on each picture, and open in the new tab to get higher resolution)**

The Khorat Geopark has been cooperating with many sectors to expand Geopark networks from local, national, and international before its official establishment in 2014.

1. International network

2014

July
The director and representatives of Khorat Geopark visited Xingwen UNESCO Global Geopark and Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark in Sichuan, China to learn about management and conservation of UGGp’s in Asia. September: The Geopark team visited Ipolytarnóc Fossils Nature Conservation Area, gateway and scientific and information center of the Novohrad-Nógrád UGGp of Hungary and Slovakia, and the Lesvos Island UGGp, Greece, to learn about UNESCO Global Geopark establishment and management system in Europe. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the director of each geopark, Pratueng Jintasakul and Nickolas Zouros on September 11, 2014 at the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

2015

January
Nickolas Zouros and Zhang Jianping visited the Northeastern Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources in Khorat Geopark as keynote speakers for “Geopark pre-evaluation for Global Geopark Network” training course.

June 23rd - July 3rd
Geopark staff participated in the International Intensive Course on Geoparks (Geoeducation in Action: Geoconservation, Geotourism, and Sustainable Development). 

July 20th - 26th
Co-organizing the 2nd CCOPDMR-UNESCO Symposium on Developing Geoparks within East & Southeast Asia Region in Khorat, keynote speakers: Patrick McKeever and Jayakumar Ramasamy from UNESCO and Richard Watson from the Marble Arch Caves UGGp, Ireland. 

September 16th - 20th
Attended Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium in the San-in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark, Japan, as invited speakers.

September 22nd-26th
Attended Geo inv2015 International Congress on Geoheritage Inventories: Challenges, Achievements and Perspectives at Museum of Toulouse, France. 

 2016

onwards
Research collaboration with Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Research Museum from Fukui Prefecture from the Dinosaur Valley Fukui Katsuyama Geopark, Japan.

2018 

April 2nd - 4th
The vice director attended Regional Geoheritage Conference at the Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid, Thailand, talked under the topic "Ancient Elephant: the inspiration for Thailand's Geopark"

August 18th - 21st
Organized training workshop on UNESCO Global Geopark & Sustainable Tourism at Kantary Hotel, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District. Experts and geologists were invited to come share and discuss ways to propel the Khorat Geopark. Keynote speakers: Guy Martini, Ibrahim Komoo, and other participants.

August 28th
MOU signed between Khorat Geopark and the Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark of Iran. 

September 8th - 14th
Director and the representatives of Khorat Geopark gave presentations at the 8th International UNESCO Academic Conference was held at the Ademello-Brenta UGGp, Italy.

November 18th - 23rd
Japanese Geoparks Network (JGN) Activity Workshop, held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

October 21st - 28th
The vice director, manager, and staff of Khorat Geopark attended a regional course on UNESCO Global Geopark in Langkawi UGGp, Malaysia

2019

 May 8th - 14th
Khorat Geopark consultants and International Affairs were invited as the keynote speaker to the International Conference on UNESCO Global Geopark Tools for Sustainable Tourism Development at Non-Nuoc Cao Bang UGGp.

May 23rd
Director, vice directors, manager, and local communities of Khorat Geopark attended the IBD2019 Session 9: Ecotourism & UNESCO Global Geopark. Khorat Geopark exhibitions were presented. Keynote speakers including Young Ng and Ibrahim Komoo.

June 24th - 26th
The geopark manager attended and gave a presentation entitled “Paleobiodiversity and conservation of fossils in Khorat National Geopark, Thailand” in the 2nd Young Conservation Scientists Conference, 2019.

July 24th - 29th
Representatives of Khorat Geopark attended the 4th International Symposium on Asian Dinosaurs in Mongolia 2019 (ISAD 2019), at Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

July 24th - 30th Representatives of Khorat Geopark attended the Science Popularization Camp of Danxiashan UGGp, Guangdong Province, China.

August 17th - 22nd
The Khorat Geopark manager visited the Jiayin Dinosaur National Geopark, China, for extending network collaboration and present about Khorat Geopark

September 3rd-6th  
Khorat Aspiring Geopark deputy directors, manager, and artist gave presentations at the 6th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium in Lombok, Indonesia. Khorat Geopark also participated in Geofair exhibitions at the event.

November 4th - 9th
Stephan Schaal, Departmental head and Messel researcher, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Germany, visited Khorat Geopark

November 17th - 20th
Khorat Aspiring Geopark director and staff participated in the 1st Asia Paleontological Congress in Beijing and expanding network collaboration.

November 18th - 28th
An executive assistant secretary of the geopark attended UNESCO Global Geopark Mentorship and Knowledge Exchange Programme at Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal. 

2. Domestic networking

Domestic geopark collaborations were initialized in 2014 and onward with Satun Aspiring Geopark and the proposed Tak Petrified Forest Geopark. On
February 28, 2018, Satun UNESCO Global Geopark signed an MOU agreement with Khorat Geopark to cooperate in supporting each other in the operation of the geoparks within Thailand. The Khorat Geopark signed an MOU with Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (Sakaerat Man & Biosphere Reserve) and Khao Yai National Park (Dong Phaya Yen Khao Yai World Heritage site) to link the two UNESCO sites with the aspiring Khorat Global Geopark on May 1st, 2018, at the Khorat Geopark Office. Other partners not under UNESCO programs are listed below: National level: Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial government, Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), PTT Public Company Limited Geographic Society of Thailand. Regional level: Tourism Authority of Thailand Northeastern Region (Nakhon Ratchasima), Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Office, transport operators; Satun Provincial Administration Organization, Satun Natural Resources and Environment Office, Thung Wa Subdistrict Administrative Organization and Palm Pattana Subdistrict Administrative Organisation from Satun Province; DMR Office Region 4 (Surat Thani Province), Songkhla Rajabhat University, Songkhla Province; Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Khok Sung Municipality, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Local partners: Sima Thani Hotel, De V Loft Hotel, Thapkaew Vocational
Training Center, Dadad Steak Jim Ka Jaew restaurant and Lung Daeng Socheng Restaurant (Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima); Hobbit Style House and Buddha Coffee (Sikhio District); Suan Thung Lung Phi Homestay (Kham Thale So District).