BANYUWANGI - The 216th Executive Board of UNESCO in Paris, France, decided and appointed Ijen Geopark as a new UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) member after previously Geopark (Earth Park) Inspector General was officially proposed as a member of the UGG.
"Alhamdulillah, after going through various processes and trials, finally Ijen Geopark officially became a member of UGG. This is based on an official letter and a release uploaded on the UNESCO website," said Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.
Geopark Ijen is part of 195 UGG sites spread across 48 countries, along with 18 other geological sites in the world that were just established in 2023. Among them are Ca bigapava (Brazil), Lavreotiki (Yunani), Aras (Iran), Hakusan Tedorigawa (Japan) and a number of other world sites.
"Hopefully, the stipulation of Inspector General as UGG will increase foreign tourist visits to Banyuwangi so that it will have an impact on the welfare and cultural strengthening of the Banyuwangi people," said Ipuk.
Ijen Geopark has a number of sites spread across two regions, namely Banyuwangi and Bondowoso Regencies. The main characteristics that are favored from the Geopark site, Inspector General, are the peculiarity of the Mount Ijen area which prioritizes three tourism components, namely geology, biology and culture.
Meanwhile, the Daily Executive of Ijen Geopark (PHIG) Banyuwangi Abdillah Baraas said that at the assessment stage, Inspector General Geopark managed to get a high score with a score of 872.
"However, we still have to work hard to make improvements in various aspects so that we can maintain UGG status during the revalidation period in 2026. Of course with collaboration with related parties," he said.
Efforts to develop and maintain Ijen Unesco Global Geopark, according to Abdillah, must be carried out in a multi-party manner. It cannot be done partially, but there must be roles from various parties.
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Especially in Banyuwangi, he said, the programs that have been running will continue, such as educational activities in schools, community empowerment, geotourism training, geo-products, to the conservation aspect.
"In the future, we will improve several things, including public transportation to tourist destinations and geopark sites for tourists. Also, network development," he said.
Apart from Inspector General of Geoparks, there are three other places from Indonesia that have received UGG, namely Geopark Maros (Pangkep), Merangin (Jambi) and Raja Ampat (Papua).
"The handover of the UGG certificate from UNESCO will be carried out in September in Morocco," said Abdillah.
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