Jakarta - Geopark is a geographical area that has a geological heritage and high-value geological diversity, including biodiversity and cultural diversity that are integrated in it, which is developed with three main pillars, namely conservation, education and local economic development. After previously there were two Indonesian geoparks, namely Batur and Gunung Sewu which received the title of UNESCO Global Geopark in 2016, in April 2018, there were two Indonesian geoparks that again received the same title from UNESCO, namely Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and Ciletuh in Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java. Rinjani and Ciletuh were recognized together with eleven other geoparks spread across North America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Thus, in Southeast Asia, of the total six UNESCO Global Geoparks, four of them are in the country. Indonesia also has seven National Geopark areas, and there are approximately 80 areas that are candidates for National Geopark in 2025.
Quoted from the UNESCO website, UNESCO Global Geopark is a geographical area where sites and landscapes that are international geological assets are managed with the concept of conservation, education and community empowerment in an integrated manner. With this concept, a UNESCO-recognized geopark will be developed with a conservation and sustainable development approach involving local communities. Currently, there are 140 geoparks included in the UNESCO network. These parks are located in 38 countries, four of which are in Indonesia. Membership of UNESCO Global Geopark is limited to only four years and will be reviewed afterwards. To support the development of Geopark, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs together with the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Education and Culture held the 12st National Conference of Geopark Indonesia on Thursday morning (7/XNUMX) at the Saleh Afiff Building, Ministry of PPN/Bappenas.
With Indonesia's entry into the UNESCO Global Geopark list, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan said he was proud. According to him, there are many benefits that Indonesia can gain from this recognition. "Geoparks can be an alternative solution for utilizing natural and cultural wealth for economic revival and social empowerment that still prioritizes environmental preservation and protection factors," he said when opening the 1st National Conference of Indonesian Geoparks. Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Luhut said that after the recognition of two Indonesian geopark sites as UNESCO Global Geoparks, the attractiveness of the area as well as investment opportunities in several sectors have the potential to increase rapidly. "From the development of geoparks, the tourism service sector, MSME industry, creative industry, hospitality, agriculture, culinary and several other related sectors can grow," explained Coordinating Minister Luhut.
“Geopark development provides real contributions, among others, to regional development, increasing community resilience to disasters, educating communities on good living by respecting diverse cultures, empowering women to obtain additional sources of income, providing employment opportunities for communities through geopark tourism, and establishing cooperation between regions and countries in utilizing geological diversity, biodiversity and culture, as well as environmental services (amenities) sustainably," said Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Bambang Brodjonegoro. As identified by UNESCO (2017), geopark development also contributes to Indonesia's efforts to achieve the goals and targets of the Sustainable Development Goals/Sustainable Development Goals (TPB/SDGs). Concretely, geopark development is reflected in at least eight goals. The eight goals are: (i) Goal 1, No Poverty; (ii) Goal 4, Quality Education; (iii) Goal 5, Gender Equality; (iv) Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; (v) Goal 11, Sustainable Cities; (vi) Goal 12, Responsible Production and Consumption; (vii) Goal 13, Addressing Climate Change; and (viii) Goal 17, Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.
"Today's conference is a forum for learning and discussion, as well as exploring innovations to realize sustainable economic welfare, maintain the sustainability of people's social life, and maintain the quality of the environment which is the spirit of sustainable development through geopark development," said Minister Bambang. In addition to being attended by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan and the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Bambang Brodjonegoro, the 500st National Conference on Geopark Indonesia was also attended by the Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo and the Head of the Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf as well as academics and geopark activists, with a total of approximately 2019 conference participants. The conference, which focused on discussing geopark development for sustainable economic development and environmental preservation, was also the beginning for a follow-up international conference to be held in September XNUMX and for the first time Indonesia will act as host. Asia Pacific Geopark Network (APGN) Conference at the UNESCO Global Geopark Rinjani location, Mataram, Lombok.
Jakarta, 12 July 2018
| Thohir Affandi Acting Head of Public Relations and Leadership Administration Bureau Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas |
Latief Nurbana Head of Information and Legal Bureau Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs |
| For more information: Bureau of Public Relations and Leadership Administration Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Jl. Taman Suropati No. 2, Central Jakarta 10310 Telephone: (021) 31936207, Fax.: (021) 31901154 e-mail: humas@bappenas.go.id |
Information and Legal Bureau Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs JL. MH Thamrin No. 8, Central Jakarta 10340 Telephone: (021) 23951100, Fax.: (021) 3141790 e-mail: biroinfokum@maritim.go.id |
in collaboration with the Government Communications Team of the Ministry of Communication and Information
