Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Meratus Geopark Management Agency (BP Geopark Meratus) Nurul Fajar Desira said that the South Kalimantan government seeks the Meratus Geopark to become tourism-based economic revenue for the community.
“The regional government wants economic income in South Kalimantan not to always depend on mining, but to shift to green economy that is environmentally more friendly such as Meratus Geopark,” said Fajar in Banjarbaru, Tuesday.
This step, he said, is to change people's mindset that the main economic source is not always coal mining, but tourism can also open up big opportunities for various promosing sectors.
“We acknowledge that the source of regional revenue reaches 30 percent from coal mining, but it is non-renewable, so there must be other solution and alternative to ensure people's welfare,” he said.
Fajar pointed out that Meratus Geopark has four travel route with a total 54 cultural heritage sites spread across South Kalimantan as tourism based on environmental sustainability.
Through these 54 sites, the communities are fostered and empowered to develop micro, small, and medium (MSMEs) products that can be traded to visitors to the Meratus Geopark as well as managing various tourist attractions.
Meratus Mountains were designed as a National Geopark site in 2018 based on the recommendation of the Indonesian National Geopark Committee (KGNI). The South Kalimantan Provincial Government is making various efforts so that the cultural heritage sites receive international recognation.
“In October we will submit the documents to UNESCO to apply for Meratus Geopark to be designated as Global Geopark,” said Fajar.
Furthermore, the documents will be submitted by KGNI directly to UNESCO for evaluation. After being declared eligible, UNESCO will visit South Kalimantan to carry out a direct validation in April 2024.
Daily Chair of BPGM Hanifah Dwi Nirwana said although the time is not that long, she is optimistis that Meratus Geopark status will change as Global Geopark.
According to her, South Kalimantan deserves world recognition because the 54th sites within the Geopark Meratus have a rich cultural heritage that meets the required criteria, namely having high value earth heritage proven by a number of historical records.
It contains geological diversity, biodiversity, and of course it is managed for conservation, education, and sustainable development purposes.
“The most important thing is to build and nurture the community with undestanding of regional history and culture for their survival,” said Hanifah.
He sides also collaborates with third parties and intensifies Meratus Geopark promotion through various activities and agendas in the region and outside the region with the aim of increasing recognition of 54 leading cultural heritages sites of South Kalimantan.
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