Visit Merangin Geological Park Site, UNESCO Assessment Team Focuses on Monitoring Conservation and Community Empowerment Efforts

JAMBI - The geological park assessment team from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) visited geological sites in the Merangin Geological Park area in Merangin Regency, Jambi Province.

According to a press release from the Merangin Regency Government quoted by Antara, Sunday, October 9, they walked along the rapids of the Batang Merangin River and observed geological sites in the area, and had a dialogue with children at the State Elementary School 14 Air Batu Village, Renah Pembarap District, Merangin Regency, on Saturday, October 8.

The senior assessor of the geological park from UNESCO, Babis C Fasoula, who came with his colleague Alireza, said that the assessment team focused on looking at conservation efforts and community empowerment in the Merangin Geological Park area.

General Manager of Geopark Merangin, Agus Zainuddin, said that during the visit two assessors from UNESCO looked at the condition of the geological park and efforts to protect the area.

"They really feel that the local community in the geopark area (geological park) in Air Batu Village really loves and takes good care of the geopark", he said.

He said assessors from UNESCO stopped by and observed the Air Batu Granitoid Geosite, Teluk Gedang Geosite, and the Gedang Bay Wood Fossil Geosite in the Merangin Geological Park area.

The tour guide at the Merangin Geological Park, Syamsul, told UNESCO assessors that these geological sites are highly protected.

"People die if they steal or disturb the fossils of the Merangin-Jambi Geopark. We are very protective of them", he said.

Merangin Geological Park is expected to pass the assessment and be included in the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) list.