Sarawak is positive that its Sarawak Delta Geopark will soon receive recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The confidence was stated by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, who told UKAS that various efforts are underway to meet the prestigious status.
To ensure the Sarawak Delta Geopark gets the recognition, four key factors are currently looked into, namely having the geo park have ‘a unique geological feature that holds ‘universal value.’, a clear visual representation of this unique geology and having the Sarawak Geopark establish connections with other UNESCO Global Geoparks.
The fourth element to obtain the recognition involves having a unique cultural element within the geopark area.
What is UNESCO Global Geopark?
According to UNESCO, UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are given this designation for a period of four years after which the functioning and quality of each UNESCO Global Geopark is thoroughly re-examined during a revalidation process.
At present, there are 213 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 48 countries. In Malaysia, there are only two UNESCO Global Geoparks, namely Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark and Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark.
You can see the full list of UNESCO Global Geoparks HERE.
