KUCHING: The state government is in the final stages of developing the Sarawak Delta Geopark, which covers several areas of the Sarawak River Basin.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg said the inventory study of geological heritage in Sarawak commenced since 2001 and the proposal to establish the geopark was accepted by the representative of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 2009.
“It will be a model for regional sustainable development that can ensure a balance between three components, namely conservation of heritage resources, development of tourism infrastructure, and enhancement of local socio-economic activities,” he said.
Abang Johari’s speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the launch of the Regional Geoheritage Conference 2019, themed “Celebrating Earth’s Legacy through Geoheritage” held here on Wednesday evening.
The event serves as a platform to promote and re-brand the natural resources through geoheritage.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak River Basin areas to be involved were Bau, Bako, Santubong and Borneo Highland in Padawan.
Bau is significant with tropical karsts landscape, historical mining sites and fossil sites while Bako has unique coastal morphology characterised by rich geological and biological heritage.
Meanwhile, Santubong area is a natural coastal landform, which is partly developed as a recreational and cultural centre.
Borneo Highland in Padawan is the oldest continental deposit in Borneo, showing unique circular basin landforms.
“I believe the establishment of the proposed Sarawak Delta Geopark will benefit the state in terms of global publicity to Sarawak as an eco-friendly State and also geo-tourism promotion,” he added.
A geopark, he said, is a Unesco-designated area containing one or more sites of particular geological importance, intended to conserve the geological heritage and promote public awareness, typically through geo-tourism.
It is a single and unified geographical area where sites and landscapes of international or national geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
The initiative is recognised since 2015 as a permanent programme under Unesco Global Geoparks (UGGp), within the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP).