Martapura, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - Governor of South Kalimantan H Sahbirin Noor together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum and community concerned about the environment declaring the Meratus Mountains a national geopark in Kiram Park, Banjar District, Sunday (24/2)
The Governor expressed his gratitude because his area was blessed with so many and unique natural resources.
"South Kalimantan has high-value geological sites, as well as beautiful landscapes spread along the Meratus Mountains, from Tabalong to Kotabaru District. This is natural wealth that is second to none," he said.
According to him, the Meratus Mountains have now gained recognition as a National Geopark by the National Geopark Committee.
"This is a very significant progress. I invite all of us to care for, preserve, develop the earth of South Kalimantan, especially the Meratus Mountains for our children and grandchildren in the future," he said.
General Chairman of the Meratus Mountains National Geopark Management Board Nurul Fajar Desira said, masterplane development of geopark includes improving the existing infrastructure, increasing networks with national and international geoparks and improving tourism promotion.
Geopark Meratus, he said, is unique compared to other geopark and Meratus is a mountain with the oldest cluster of oceanic crust (ofiolite) in Indonesia, even the world.
Fajar, who was accompanied by the Head of Public Works and Housing Roy Rizali Anwar, said the Provincial Government would propose the Meratus Geopark to be an international status next year.
"Our target next year will be to propose the Meratus Mountains Geopark to Unesco to increase tourist visits, while increasing the economy of the community," he said.
Currently there are four geoparks in Indonesia that are included as Unesco Global Geopark (UGG), namely Batur Unesco Global Geopark, Sewu Mountain Unesco Global Geopark, Rinjani Unesco Global Geopark, and Ciletuh-Pelabuhanratu Unesco Global Geopark.
