UNESCO Welcomes 16 New Sites to Global Geopark Network, Two from Indonesia

April 20, 2025 | 09:44 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - UNESCO’s Executive Board has approved 16 new additions to the Global Geopark network, bringing the total to 229 sites across 50 countries.

"In ten years, UNESCO Geoparks have become models for the conservation of geological heritage. But their role goes much further: they support educational projects, promote sustainable tourism and keep the knowledge and traditions of these territories alive through the active participation of local and indigenous communities," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay as quoted from a written statement on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Audrey stated that the designation of UNESCO Global Geopark is a recognition of internationally valuable geological heritage.

This network also emphasizes the vital role of knowledge, culture, and the involvement of local and indigenous communities in preserving geological heritage, conducting educational activities, and implementing sustainable development approaches in the respective areas.

The 16 new geoparks designated by UNESCO this time are distributed across China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

North Korea also, for the first time, joined the UNESCO Global Geopark network and contributed to the protection of mountainous areas together with China.

Kebumen and Meratus Geoparks Join the List

Indonesia recently added two new sites to the list: Kebumen Geopark in Central Java and Meratus Geopark in South Kalimantan.

Kebumen Geopark holds key geological records, including Java’s oldest rock formations. The Karangsambung site serves as a natural laboratory that features rocks from an ancient ocean-continent boundary.

These rocks are strong evidence of plate tectonics, showing how seafloors were lifted to the surface. The area also contains marine fossils, underground caves, and rivers.

Audrey noted that Kebumen Geopark plays a significant role in conservation, public awareness, and sustainable development. Turtle conservation posts have been established at beaches like Jogosimo, Tambak Mulyo, and Lembu Purwo, helping protect eggs that were previously at risk of poaching.

The region also preserves its cultural heritage through pandan weaving, a tradition passed down for generations. In Wonorejo Village, the Jiemat geopark program introduces this craft to students, teaching them how to process pandan leaves into bags and sandals.

In Grenggeng Village, the Innovative Youth Forum helps local weavers through digital marketing training, connecting traditional crafts to modern markets.

Javanese traditions are evident in the area’s crafts, cuisine, and community life. Geological conditions such as groundwater sources and river proximity have influenced settlement patterns, agriculture, and spiritual practices since the Megalithic period.

Meratus Geopark in South Kalimantan highlights complex tectonic evolution from the Jurassic period and contains Indonesia’s oldest ophiolite series along with valuable diamond deposits.

The unique landscape supports rich biodiversity, including various orchids and proboscis monkeys. Conservation efforts in the mangrove ecosystem have helped increase the monkey population, which is now the mascot of South Kalimantan.

The geopark is also home to the Banjar and Dayak communities, who continue to practice traditional lifestyles. Trade at the Lok Baintan Floating Market uses jukung boats, while the Dayak Meratus people still use bamboo rafting through a method called balanting paring.

The Banjar tribe’s cultural identity is also preserved through sasirangan cloth, which dates back to 1335 and carries symbolic meanings in its colors and patterns.

The area hosts cultural events such as the Meratus Great Culture Carnival, Geopark Run, and the Floating Market Festival to celebrate and promote its heritage.

Editor’s Choice: Meratus Geopark: A New Frontier for Tourism Development in South Kalimantan

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