Lessons can be learned from natural disasters and climate change by utilizing parks with geological features, according to scientists and environmental conservationists who wrapped up a four-day international conference in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture.

At the closing ceremony Tuesday of the Fifth International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks, British geologist Patrick McKeever read out a declaration adopted at the conference that included the statement, "Education about our dynamic planet in geoparks is a most effective way to help our local communities understand how to coexist with nature."

Around 5,300 people, including geologists from 31 countries and local residents, attended the four-day conference.