Workshops for the Mapping of Karst Environment and Geology in China and Southeast Asia

    In line with the objectives, tasks and plan of the Project “Mapping of karst environment and geology in China and Southeast Asia”, five workshops were organized in 2015.

   On September 22-23, 2015, the first workshop for the Mapping of Karst Environment and Geology in China and Southeast Asia was held in Nanning, Guangxi, China. It was jointly organized by the Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS/IRCK, and the Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CAGS. The workshop was chaired by Prof. Zhang Fawang, Party Secretary and Executive Deputy Director of the Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS (IKG). Mr. Hans Dencker Thulstrup, official of UNESCO Beijing Office joined the workshop. It was also attended by the Chinese project members from IKG and IHEG; and the foreign project members, including: Chaiporn Siripornpibuli, and Mahippong Worakul from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,Thailand; Eko Mahippong Worakul from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia; Laud Jose Marcel Sevilla, senior engineer from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Philippines; Thiha Soee from the Myanmar Environment Institute; Kong Sitha from the General Department of Mineral Resources, Cambodia; Chea Samneang from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia; and Vu Le Phuong from the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

At the workshop, the participants further revised the Distribution Map of Karst in Southern China and Southeast Asia, as well as the Hydrogeological Map of Southern China and Southeast Asia. They also discussed the principles of classifying the aquifers in the maps and karst development degrees. Finally, based on the Chinese and international standards, it has defined the actual conditions in different countries and the experts’ opinions, the new standards on classifying karst geology and hydrogeology in southern China and Southeast Asia.

 The project members exchanging information on the mapping

Group photo of the Chinese and foreign experts attending the workshop

     On November 4, 2015, the second Workshop for the Mapping of Karst Environment and Geology in China and Southeast Asia took place in Nanning. It was jointly organized by IRCK/IKG, IHEG. It brought together a total of 21 foreign experts and officials, who came from nine countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laosand Malaysia. During the workshop, Prof. Zhang Fawang and Dr. Xu Qi from IKG and Prof. Cheng Yanpei from IHEG delivered speeches on three topics: Maritime Silk Road and Geo-environmental Protection, Mapping of Hydrogeology in Asia, Mapping of Karst Environment and Geology in China and Southeast Asia, respectively. Five experts from the Department of Geology, Cambodia, the Department of Mineral Resources, Laos, the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, Malaysia, and the Department of Mineral Resources, Thailand also delivered oral presentations. Their topics included: karst development, karst distribution, geo-environmental protection and research status in their own country. They also shared their views on the prominent geo-environmental problems, policy options on geo-environmental protection and collaboration proposed for the future.

Group photo of the second workshop for the Mapping of Karst Environment and Geology in Chinaand Southeast Asia

     From November 15 to December 4, 2015, five researchers from IRCK led by Prof. Zhang Cheng, Secretary General of IRCK, visited Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand totake part in the field work for the sub-project of “Comparative study on karstgeology in China and Indo-China” under the project of “Mapping the karst environment and geology in China and Southeast Asia”. The tasks included: maintaining the original subterranean stream monitoring station in the karst areas in Kanchanaburi Province, northwestern Thailand; karst hydrogeological investigation; implementation of the tracer experiment; and construction of the second international monitoring station on karst carbon sink. On November 21, the tracers were placed in a sinkhole at the upstream recharge area of Phu Toei Spring basin, Sai York County, Kanchanaburi Province. The project team also conducted sampling and field test of karst spring in western Thailand, extracted and buried dissolution tablets. Wang Ba Dan Spring in the southeastof the research area was selected to build the second monitoring station, whichis mainly responsible for monitoring water quality, water quantity and precipitation.

Placement of tracers in the field of Thailand

Monitoring station on water quality of Phu Toei Spring in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

     During the period from November 10 to 20, 2015, five project members for the mapping of karst environment and geology in China and Southeast Asia (i.e., Zhou Lixin, Xu Qi, Yang Xiangpeng, Li Wenli and Luo Qukan) visited Myanmar Environment Institute to exchange information on the progress of the project. After having learned the progress of the project, the Myanmar experts expressed their willingness to support the project implementation. The visit has enhanced the partnership and laid a good foundation for the mapping of karst geology in Myanmar. By conducting field investigation on karst geology in western andcentral Myanmar, the project team has improved their understanding about the karst distribution and development in Myanmar and acquired detailed data for the mapping efforts.

Exchange of project information at Myanmar Environment Institute

Group photo for the project members and researchers of Myanmar Environment Institute

Conducting the investigation on karst geology in Myanmar

     On December 19, 2015, an expert consulting workshop for the project of “Mappingthe karst environment and geology in China and Southeast Asia” was organized by IRCK/IKG and IHEG. The experts reviewed the achievements of the project: Distribution Map of Karst in Southern China and Southeast Asia, as well as the Hydrogeological Map of Southern China and Southeast Asia, as well as the instructions for mapping. Chaired by Prof. Zhang Fawang, the workshop brought together 14 experts, i.e., Li Tingdong, Yuan Daoxian, Wang Jiyang, and Ren Jishun, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Lu Yaoru and Wu Qiang, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Shen Zhaoli and Zhu Lixin, academicians of Russian Academy of Sciences; Tian Tingshan and Hao Aibing, deputy director-generals of China Institute of Geo-Environment Monitoring; Prof. Hao Ziguo, Geological Society of China; Prof. Do Huy Cuong, Vice President of Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Prof. Eko Haryono from Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia; and Prof. Thiha Soee from Myanmar Environment Institute.

    The experts agreed that the Distribution Map of Karst in Southern China and Southeast Asia, and the Hydrogeological Map of Southern China and Southeast Asia are characterized by solid foundation of basic data, right principles, reasonable structure, and accurate content, and showed the actual conditions in the regions. They may play an important role in guiding the wise use of natural resources in each country, planning key programs, avoiding risks and protecting the eco-environment. More importantly, they may contribute to the implementation of “One Belt, One Road” strategy, and provide data support for the theoretical studies on karst geology and hydrogeology. The experts also proposed some comments and recommendations on some key issues related to the mapping, hoping the project team can improve and finalize the outcomes for publication as soon as possible.

Experts discuss with the project members