Geopark Kebumen Officially Recognized As UNESCO Global Geopark

Geopark Kebumen (Instagram/kebumeneopark)

JAKARTA - After a long struggle, Geopark Kebumen was finally recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGP). This status will be officially intercepted by Geopark Kebumen starting in 2025.

Launching Instagram @mongabay.id, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, UNESCO's recognition is a new milestone for Kebumen. Geopark Kebumen is included in the UNESCO Global Park (UGGP) list through the UGGp Council Session which was held at Cao Bang, Vietnam, on Sunday, September 8, 2024.

Geopark, which is located in Kebumen, Central Java, has a land area of more than 1,138 square kilometers. Plus a sea area of 21.98 square kilometers, with a total of 22 sub-districts and 374 villages.

Geopark Kebumen covers various sites such as geological, cultural, and handicraft. Sites related to the people's economy were also present, such as Geosite Watukelir, Gunung Parang, Goa Jatijajar, to the conservation of hatchlings in Kaliratu.

The management of Geopark Kebumen is assessed based on the preservation of geological heritage, as well as community involvement in maintaining these sites. The Regent of Kebumen, Arif Sugiyanto, said that hope for Geopark Kebumen can provide sustainable benefits for future generations.

Citing various sources, one of the priority areas in Geopark Kebumen is Seboro Village. This village stores geological wealth that attracts experts and researchers to visit it.

One of the unique geosites in Seboro Village is Lava Pillow and Lintak Merah, which is believed to have formed 80 million years ago, when the stones were still at the ocean floor. The Seboro area also maintains local cultural values related to the existence of the geological site.