Jambi Provincial Government Efforts To Maintain Merangin Status As Universal Geopark UNESCO

Jambi - Jambi Provincial Government continues to fight for geoparks located in Merangin Regency, which still holds the universal status of geoparks from UNESCO.

Jambi Province Regional Secretary (Sekda) Sudirman in Jambi, Sunday said the province would continue to intervene in Merangin's geopark in the form of providing Rp1 billion of annual routine grant funds for the management and maintenance of the site.

Currently, UNESCO is conducting stages of assessment and evaluation regarding the status of the Merangin geopark to survive as a universal geopark.

Local governments continue to make improvements and road infrastructure development efforts, including site protection to remain safe from certain irresponsible parties.

Every year the provincial and district governments always provide financial support of one billion rupiahs to support the development of geoparks.

"This is our effort to maintain that the Merangin geopark remains a world heritage whose responsibility is managed by Unesco," he said as quoted by ANTARA, July 13.

On the other hand, Merangin Regent Muhammad Syukur said, currently geopark authority is entirely in the provincial government. The district government only supports programs set by the provincial government.

The district government also provides support for development funds around the geopark, including empowerment of the surrounding community to keep the earth park safe from the threat of vandalism.

"Although the geopark location is in the district, the authority and responsibility are entirely with the provincial government. We must be in line (regencies and provinces) what kind of development (development) is for the Merangin geopark," said Mukur.