Global comparative analysis on the world natural heritage values of Libo cone karst in China

The World Natural Heritage is non-renewable resource,which is unique and irreplaceable,with world-class value and significance on the world.South China Karst is a total name of world natural heritage projects,which are declared by Chinese government to World Heritage Committee by stages.The first nominated sites,Libo in Guizhou Province,Shilin in Ynnan Province and Wulong in Chongqing City,which represent cone karst,stone forest and gorge karst respectively,were listed in World Heritage List on the 31st World Heritage Convention held in New Zealand on June 27,2007.To study the values of world natural heritage sites has great significance to the sustainable development of the sites and other similar areas.Based on the systemism theory and the world heritage evaluation criterion viii about characters of geology,geomorphology and earth history,the outstanding universal values of Libo Karst,one of the properties of the South China Karst,were revealed after a global comparative analysis with similar areas worldwide.It was found that Libo Karst developed under more special environment with more complex geological evolution process.It demonstrates more typical geomorphological characters of both single cone karst forms and complex formations.It also owns rare forest ecosystem on cone karst and records of lives.Therefore,Libo Karst is the outstanding example representing the major stage of typical cone karst evolution history in tropical and subtropical areas,and has excellent representative values of the South China Karst.To study the values of world natural heritage sites is very important to the second stage world natural heritage nominated sites of South China Karst,which are declaring now.Yuntai Mountain of Shibing County in Guizhou Province,which is well-known with typical and integrated dolomite karst,is nominated as one of the second stage nominated sites of South China Karst.To explore the unique and aesthetic value of Yuntai Mountain is so important to be listed in world heritage list,and also is necessary to conservation and sustainable utilization of the scenic spots.To measure and count the characteristics of Yuntai Mountain on topographic maps using morphometry method,and to find similar typical landforms and contrast to it,the prominent value of world natural heritage can be proved,which would be study in future.