Provisions for the management of the protection of geosite
（Selection）
Chapter I. General provisions
Article 1 In order to strengthen the management of the geosite so that it can be effectively protected and reasonably utilised, these regulations are formulated in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Protection, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Mineral Resources and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Nature Reserves.
Article 2 These provisions shall apply to all types of geosite in the territory of the People's Republic of China and in the maritime areas under its jurisdiction.
Article 3 Geosite, as referred to in these provisions, refers to the precious and non-renewable geological and natural heritage that has been formed, developed and left behind as a result of various internal and external dynamics of geological action during the long period of geological history of the earth's evolution.
Article 4 Protected geosite is a valuable asset of the State, which shall not be destroyed, excavated, bought, sold or otherwise transferred by any unit or individual.
Article 5 The protection of geosite is part of environmental protection, and the principle of "active protection and rational development" should be applied.
Article 6 The administrative department of geology and minerals under the State Council shall, with the assistance of the administrative department of environmental protection under the State Council, exercise supervision and management over the protection of geological remains throughout the country. The administrative department of geology and minerals of the people's governments at or above the county level, with the assistance of the administrative department of environmental protection at the same level, shall exercise supervision and management over the protection of geosite within its jurisdiction.
Chapter II. Contents of protection of geosite
Article 7 The following geosite shall be protected:
a. Typical stratigraphic sections (including sub-stratigraphic sections), stratigraphic sections of biofossil assemblage zones, lithological and petrographic construction sections, and typical geological tectonic sections and tectonic traces, which are of great scientific research value for tracing geological history.
b. Fossils and places of origin of ancient human beings and ancient vertebrates, invertebrates, microscopic paleontology, ancient plants and other fossils, as well as the remains of important paleontological activities, which are of important scientific and cultural value for geological evolution and biology.
c. Karst, Danxia, loess, Yadan, granite peaks, quartz sandstone peaks and forests, volcanoes, icebergs, meteorites, sands, coasts and other strange geological landscapes with significant scientific research and ornamental value.
d. Rocks, minerals, precious stones and other typical origins with special disciplinary research and ornamental value.
e. Have unique medical, health care effects or scientific research value and hot springs, mineral springs, mineral mud, traces of groundwater activity. Waterfalls, lakes and strange springs of special geological significance.
f. Remains of typical geological disasters such as earthquakes, earth fissures, cave-ins, subsidence, avalanches, landslides, mudslides and so on, which are of significance for scientific research.
g. Other geosite in need of protection.
Chapter III Construction of Protected Areas for Geosites
Article 11 Delineation of the degree of protection:
Primary, secondary and tertiary protection may be implemented for geosites in protected areas.
Primary protection：Geosites of extremely rare and important scientific value at the international or domestic level are protected at the first level and may not be entered unless approved. Visits, scientific research or international exchanges may be organised with the approval of the administrative department of geology and minerals of the people's government that has established that level of geosite protection.
secondary protection：secondary protection is implemented for geosites of significant scientific value within a large area. With the approval of the administrative department of geology and minerals of the people's government that establishes the geosite protection area at that level, scientific research, teaching, academic exchanges and appropriate tourism activities may be carried out in an organised manner.
tertiary protection：tertiary protection are implemented for geological remains of a certain value. Tourism activities may be organised with the approval of the administrative department of geology and minerals of the people's government that has established the geosite protection area at that level.
Chapter IV. Management of Protected Areas for Geosites
Article 13 The establishment of protected areas for geosites shall take into account the integrity of the objects to be protected as well as the needs of local economic construction and the production and life of the people.
Article 14 The scope and boundaries of a protected area for geosites shall be determined, fixed markers buried and public notices issued by the people's government that has approved the establishment of the protected area. No unit or individual may move or change the monuments or boundary markers without the approval of the original approval authority.
Article 17 No unit or individual is allowed to carry out quarrying, earth extraction, mining, grazing, logging and other activities that are detrimental to the protected objects within the protected area and within a certain range that may have an impact on the geosite. Specimens and fossils shall not be collected within the protected area without the approval of the management organisation.
Article 18 Workshops or other building facilities unrelated to the protection of geosite shall not be constructed in the protected area; facilities that have been built and may cause pollution or damage to the geosite shall be treated within a limited period of time or shut down and relocated out of the area.
Article 19 The management body may, depending on the degree of protection of the geosite, grant permission to units or individuals to engage in scientific research, teaching and tourism activities within the scope of the protected work area. Copies of the scientific research results obtained shall be submitted to the management body of the protection of the geosite for archiving.
Chapter V. Legal responsibility
Article 20 For any of the following behaviours, the management agency of the protected geosite area may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Nature Reserves, depending on the circumstances, give a warning, impose a fine, confiscate the illegal gains and order compensation for the damages, respectively.
a. Unauthorised movement and destruction of monuments and boundary markers in violation of article 14 of the present provisions;
b. In violation of Article 17 of these Regulations, quarrying, earth extraction, mining, grazing, logging and collecting specimens and fossils;
c. Violation of article 18 of the present provisions, causing pollution and damage to the geosite;
d. In violation of Article 19 of these Regulations, disobedience to the management of the management body of the protected area as well as engaging in scientific research activities without submitting a copy of the research results to the management unit.
Article 21 For managers who neglect their duties, supervise and steal, and destroy geosites, the higher administrative authorities shall give administrative sanctions, and those who constitute crimes shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.
Article 22 If the parties concerned are not satisfied with the administrative penalty decision, they may initiate administrative reconsideration and administrative litigation.
