Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Meratus Geopark Management Agency (BP Geopark Meratus) is now preparing people around the Meratus Mountains area, South Kalimantan, so they can take economic benefits from the geopark.
"The main goal of the geopark is to conserve the Meratus area and provide added value to the community through its natural and cultural wealth," said Head of BP Geopark Meratus Nurul Fajar Derisa in a meeting with Dangsanak Geopark Meratus community in Banjarbaru, Monday.
Thus, he said, the readiness of the local community is crucial in the development of the geopark.
Dangsanak Geopark Meratus is a non-profit organization that has members of various circles, including environmental activists, media crews, students, entrepreneurs, community leaders, who are concerned about environmental conservation, especially in South Kalimantan.
Fajar, who is also the head of the South Kalimantan Board of Development Planning (Bappeda), appreciated the establishment of the community which is expected to be the partner of BP Geopark Meratus.
South Kalimantan government is currently proposing the Meratus Geopark to become a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG), after it was designated as the national geopark in 2018.
Related news: Meratus meets criteria to gain UNESCO Global Geopark status: geologist
Fajar acknowledged the requirements to become UGG are quite difficult, starting from preparing documents to the site that should be well managed by the community.
"Local communities must also know and tell stories about geological events in their area," he continued.
Meanwhile, the local government builds access and public facilities in the area to be easy to visit.
South Kalimantan government has also prepared various international events to promote Meratus Geopark.
"Meratus Geopark will later include in the curriculum of elementary to high school. Insya Allah (God Willing) next year the University of Lambung Mangkurat will open Geology study program, so the students can oversee the management of this geopark to the future," he said.
Chairman of Dangsanak Geopark Meratus M Farid Soufian said that the community is ready to push the Meratus Geopark to become UGG.
"We want the preservation of Meratus Geopark to be maintained in the future," said Farid.
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