CIRCULAR
Regulations on the content of geological investigation and evaluation work
of geological heritage and geological parks

Pursuant to the Law on Minerals No. 60/2010/QH12 dated November 17, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 158/2016/NĐ-CP dated November 29, 2016 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Minerals Law;

On the basis of Decision No. 36/2017/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2017, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Vietnam General Department of Geology and Mineral Resources and the Head of the Legal Department,

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates this Circular regulating the content of the investigation and evaluation work of geological heritage and geological parks.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. This Circular provides detailed regulations for Clause 1 of Article 14 of Decree No. 158/2016/NĐ-CP dated November 29, 2016 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Minerals.

2. The investigation and evaluation work of geological heritage and geological parks is part of the basic geological survey related to minerals.

3. Management and protection of geological heritage and geological parks located within historical-cultural relics and scenic spots shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on cultural heritage.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to state management agencies for geology and minerals and organizations and individuals involved in the investigation and evaluation of geological heritage and geological parks.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Geological resources are material forms created by geological processes, existing in or on the Earth's crust that can be exploited and utilized by humans.

2. Geological heritage is a part of geological resources with outstanding value in science, education, aesthetics, and economy.

3. A geological park is a defined area containing geological heritage with significant importance in geological science, unique in culture, ecology, and archaeology; having appropriate size to implement functions of management, conservation, research, and sustainable economic and social development and environmental protection.

Article 4. Classification of geological heritage and geological parks

1. Geological heritage includes the following types:

a) Paleontological heritage (Type A) is a point or group of points in nature containing one or more distinctive fossil types with dating value, indicative of ancient environmental conditions in a region and resulting from a regional geological period;

b) Landform heritage (Type B) is a landform landscape (Type B1) or cave system (Type B2) with distinctive aesthetic value, uniqueness, and reflecting regional geological history;

c) Ancient environment heritage (Type C) is a point or group of points of exposed rock formations containing clear, distinctive traces of environmental conditions during the formation of rocks in regional geological history;

d) Rock heritage (Type D) is a point or group of points of exposed rock formations representing characteristic rock formations of a regional geological period;

đ) Stratigraphic heritage (Type E) is a point exposure or group of point exposures or geological cross-sections showing characteristics, order, boundaries of one or more stratigraphic units;

e) Mineral and mineral resource heritage (Type F) is a point exposure or group of point exposures of geological formations with distinctive mineral or mineral resource composition, origin, and formation conditions;

g) Economic geological heritage (Type H) is a closed mine with beautiful scenery, distinctive scale, ore and rock composition, and complete historical records of mining activities and development;

h) Tectonic heritage (Type I) is a point exposure or group of point exposures of geological formations clearly showing tectonic structure traces, relative movement traces of one or more regional tectonic movement processes;

i) Cosmic heritage (Type K) is an area retaining products or traces of meteorites or impact marks of cosmic origin;

k) Continental and oceanic heritage (Type L) is an area retaining traces of major changes related to the formation and transformation of continental and oceanic crust.

2. Geological parks include the following types:

a) Karst: a combination of geological heritage where the prominent feature is unique landform heritage formed by karst evolution; retains karst landform features and cave systems;

b) Volcanic: a combination of geological heritage where the prominent feature is landform heritage of value created by volcanic activity;

c) Lagoon, river delta, sea: an area combining lagoons, river deltas, and sea areas characteristic of valuable geological processes;

d) Tectonic: a combination of geological heritage where the prominent feature is tectonic heritage;

đ) Paleontological, stratigraphic, mineral and mineral resource: a combination of geological heritage where the prominent feature is paleontological, stratigraphic, mineral, and mineral resource heritage;

e) Petrological: a combination of geological heritage where the prominent feature is rock heritage;

g) River delta, river system: an area with a combination of valuable geological heritage, the result of surveying and evaluating from a large area related to the river system, planned for unified management;

h) Arid and semi-arid zone: an area with a distinctive hot arid environment, barren soil, desertification, and surface salinization occurring.

Article 5. Content of geological heritage investigation and assessment

1. Geological heritage investigation and assessment is the implementation of work to investigate and assess the geological value of the types of geological heritage specified in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular. The content of geological heritage investigation and assessment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2 of this Article.

2. Content of geological heritage investigation and assessment:

a) Investigation and assessment of the scientific and educational value of geological heritage, focusing on investigating and assessing the location, spatial distribution, geological characteristics, geological diversity, and scientific and educational significance of geological heritage;

b) Investigation and assessment of the aesthetic value of geological heritage;

c) Investigation and assessment of the economic value of geological heritage, focusing on investigating and assessing the potential for exploitation and utilization of geological heritage;

d) Identifying threats and conservation needs for geological heritage;

đ) The content of geological heritage investigation and assessment specified in points a, b, c, and d of this clause is detailed in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Article 6. Content of geopark investigation and assessment

1. Geopark investigation and assessment is the implementation of work to investigate and assess the geological value of the types of geoparks specified in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular. The content of geopark investigation and assessment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2 of this Article.

2. Content of geopark investigation and assessment:

a) Investigation and assessment of the scale and area of the geopark;

b) Investigation and assessment of the scientific value of the geopark, focusing on investigating and assessing the diversity and scientific significance of geological heritage within the geopark area;

c) Investigation and assessment of the potential of the geopark related to sustainable socio-economic development and environmental protection of the region and area;

d) The content of geopark investigation and assessment specified in points a, b, and c of this clause is detailed in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

Article 7. Report on geological heritage and geopark investigation and assessment

1. Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals assigned to carry out geological heritage and geopark investigation and assessment work shall be responsible for preparing a report on geological heritage and geopark investigation and assessment after completing the investigation and assessment activities.

2. The report on geological heritage and geopark investigation and assessment must clearly reflect the results of the investigation and assessment, determine the value of geological heritage and geopark, and related contents. The report on geological heritage and geopark investigation and assessment must include the documents specified in Clauses 3, 4, and 5 of this Article.

3. Documents on geological heritage investigation and assessment:

a) Original documents on geological heritage: materials collected, recorded, described, photographed, and filmed during field surveys; diagrams, cross-sections, and maps created during field surveys; samples collected at the site; geological analysis results;

b) Summary documents on geological heritage: cross-sections, diagrams, and maps of geological heritage; analytical and summary documents; investigation, assessment, and determination of the value of geological heritage;

c) The documents specified in point b of this clause shall be established separately for each type of geological heritage specified in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular. For geological heritage maps, they must comply with the requirements specified in point d of this clause;

d) Geological heritage map:

The geological heritage map includes the following main contents: natural elements; economic and social characteristics (transportation, population distribution, local authorities, cultural and historical structures, construction projects, and other structures); location, characteristics, and distribution scale of geological heritage sites; detailed guidance on the contents displayed on the map.

The geological heritage map must have an appropriate scale to fully and clearly display the contents of the geological heritage site, therefore, it must have a scale of 1:10,000 or higher for individual geological heritage site survey maps, and 1:25,000 or higher for cluster geological heritage site survey maps.

4. Documents on geopark investigation and assessment:

a) Original documents on geopark: materials collected, recorded, described, photographed, and filmed during field surveys; diagrams, cross-sections, and maps created during field surveys; samples collected at the site; geological analysis results;

b) Geopark map, which shows the proposed geopark area. The geopark map must meet the requirements specified in point đ of this clause;

c) In addition to the documents specified in points a and b of this clause, documents on geopark investigation and assessment also include specialized maps and diagrams: natural geographic-humanistic map; geomorphological map; geological map; structural diagram; vegetation cover diagram; distribution map of geological heritage; characteristic cave cross-sections and diagrams; distribution diagrams of other heritage;

If necessary, the maps and diagrams specified in this point may be combined and displayed on the same map or diagram but must ensure complete and clear information;

d) Other analytical and summary documents (if any);

đ) Geopark map:

The geopark map must have an appropriate scale to fully and clearly display the results of geopark investigation and assessment, therefore, it must have a scale of 1:50,000 or higher for proposed geopark areas larger than 500 km², and 1:25,000 or higher for proposed geopark areas smaller than 500 km².

Main contents displayed on the geopark map: topography; economic and social characteristics (roads, population distribution, local authorities, cultural and historical structures, construction projects, and other structures); location, characteristics, and distribution scale of geological heritage sites; location and names of other heritage; detailed guidance on the contents displayed on the map.

5. CD/DVD or hard drive storing digital documents.

Article 8. Acceptance, review, and approval of reports on geological heritage investigation and evaluation, geological park

The acceptance, review, and approval of reports on geological heritage investigation and evaluation, geological park shall be carried out in accordance with regulations on the acceptance of construction results and the review of projects and reports in the field of geology and mineral resources, and other relevant laws.

Article 9. Implementation Provisions and Organization of Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from January 15, 2018.

2. The Vietnam General Department of Geology and Mineral Resources is responsible for inspecting and monitoring the implementation of this Circular.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, people's committees at all levels, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if any difficulties or obstacles arise, they should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for study and appropriate amendments./.