~ ~~.~~ -- -~------~- Ii

Saturday, October 6, 2018

sr : Given down," said the Vice-President "We expect the proposed the global trend of developing of the Global Geoparks Network Geopark to be recognised as a UNESCO global geoparks, Association who served as Vice­ National Geopark early next Minister of Tourism, Culture and Chairman of the UNESCO Global year. We will then submit the Environment, Christina Liew is Geoparks Council for the last two documents to UNESCO possibly optimistic that geo tourism is the years. by the end of next year. It is way forward as yet another new The Council manages 140 anticipated that the Kinabalu tourism product for in the UNESCO global geoparks in 38 Geopark will be declared as a coming years. countries (including ) UNESCO Global Park Site by, She said: "We don't have to look in six continents. early 2020," he said. far as the proposed Kinabalu "We hope we will have Meanwhile, Geopark is just at our doorstep. as a UNESCO District Officer Arnold Joibi, My ministry, through Sabah Global Geopark in the next two District Officer Hj Faimin Parks, is on track to get the years." Kamin and Assistant Geopark recognised as a National Enlightening the minister, Dr District Officer pledged full Geopark Site (Malaysia) prior to Liew (seated centre), flanked by Dr Ibrahim (right> and Dr Felix, with district officers and government officials at the ministry's conference Jamili said the proposed Kinabalu support for Kinabalu Geopark's being declared as a UNESCO room. Geopark would be registered nomination as a National Global Geopark Site". as a National Geopark with the Geopark and a UNESCO Global Christina, who is also a and economic development upward one million years ago a geopark uses its g~ological National Committee on Geopark Geopark. Deputy Chief Minister, has given purposes. by tectonic movements (that is, heritage in connection with all (of which he is a member) prior There are 27,17 and 23 tourism her blessing for the ultimate "Having a Kinabalu UNESCO movements of the structural other aspects of the area's natural to submission to UNESCO for sites in Ranau (geological, realisation of the proposed Global Geopark Site will put geology of the earth's crust) and and cultural heritage to enhance it to be declared as a Kinabalu historical and nature tourism Kinabalu UNESCO Global Sabah on the world map and boost shaped by forces that continue to awareness and understanding of UNESCO Global Geopark. spots), Kota Marudu (historical Geopark, describing it as a new tourism growth. It will also bring define its landscape. key issues facing society. "This National Committee is and nature tourism spots) and concept of tourism. In this regard, socio-economic benefits to local Christina commended the key These include ecological the focal point for us to submit Kota Belud (historical and nature she has directed the Ministry's communities involved in the stakeholders (including Sabah hazards, climate change, our documents to UNESCO for tourism spots). Permanent Secretary Datu Kinabalu Geopark Initiative. Parks (Lead Agency), Department environmental issues and the proposed declaration. If Some 83 communities in the Rosmadi Datu Sulai to prepare a "This can be achieved through of Minerals and Geoscience sustainable development. successful, it will become the three districts were consulted on Cabinet Paper for submission to creating jobs and participating in Malaysia, Sabah, UKM and UMS) "In other words, we would second such geopark in Malaysia the proposed Kinabalu Geopark the State Cabinet for consideration tourism-related entrepreneurial for having laid the preparatory like to see geological heritage, after UNESCO Global move, and based on feedback, the and approval. activities," she said after a meeting groundwork for the proposed cultural heritage and biological Geopark which was established people showed enthusiasm and Dubbed "Aspiring Kinabalu with officials from the Sabah Kinabalu Geopark since 2014. "I heritage being examined together in 2007." support for the Initiative. Geopark", the proposed Kinabalu Parks, Department of Minerals know it takes a lot of hard work, to resolve current issues." Under Sabah Parks Strategic "Aspiring Kinabalu Geopark" Geopark area covers the entire and Geoscience Malaysia, Sabah, determination and patience." He said an equally important Plan (2015-2025), he said Sabah was mooted in 2006 and activated Kinabalu Park area, and the whole Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Briefing the minister, Prof Dr point is that a geopark gives local Parks was committed to having a in 2014 as an Initiative of the or part of the Districts of Ranau, (UKM) and Universiti Malaysia Ibrahim, a geologist who was people a sense of pride in their world-class management of Parks Director of Sabah Parks. Kota Belud and Kota Marudu. Sabah (UMS). responsible for introducing the region and strengthens their of Sabah by 2025. Its Board of Directors (BOD) Kinabalu Park as a UNESCO Among the key personnel "UNESCO Global Geopark" label identification with the area. "We are getting there and agreed to nominate Kinabalu World Heritage Site has an area present were Sabah Parks Director to Malaysia, said a UNESCO "On average, the right size for among the indicators are a World Park and its surroundings for of 75,370 hectares. Dr Jamili Nais who is Chairman Global Geopark has three main a geopark is between 1,000 and Heritage Site status for Kinabalu declaration as a Geopark. "I am happy this is becoming a ofthe Aspiring Kinabalu Geopark elements. 3,000 sq km. But not every area Park (since December 2, 2000) and At the same time, the phenomenon for Sabah. Let's go Technical Committee, UKM Prof "Firstly, it is a single and unified can be developed as a geopark. the which was International Relations Division for it - a declaration for Kinabalu Emeritus Dr Ibrahim Komoo, geographical area. Secondly, For geopark development, declared a Biosphere Reserve was established in Sabah Parks Geopark to be a UNESCO Global UMS geologist Prof Dr Felix it has sites and landscapes the area must be a source of on June 12, 2014. Currently, to look into the nomination. Geopark. After all, the United Tongkul, Sabah Parks Assistant of international geological geological heritage. It must these are UNESCO-recognised In 2015, the Aspiring Kinaalu Nations Educational, Scientific Director (International Relations), significance Thirdly, it must prove its international value. It sites in Sabah," he said in Geopark Technical Committee and Cultural Organisation Ludi Apin, and Principal be managed in a holistic maimer is to be developed for the benefit his presentation on UNESCO was formed comprising Dr (UNESCO) is encouraging nations Geoscience Officer Jenneth Cyril by offering protection, education of communities living within the Conservation Programmes in Jamili, Prof Dr Ibrahim, Prof to protect and preserve their who represented the Director and sustainable development. geopark and co-managed by all Sabah. Dr Felix and Mohd Yussop cultural and natural heritage of Minerals and Geoscience "Geo tourism does not mean stakeholders. It is not something A UNESCO World Heritage Ramli (Director of Department which have outstanding universal Malaysia, Sabah, Mohd Yusop geology alone. Here, we look difficult. Site is a place (examples, a of Minerals and Geoscience value of biodiversity. Ramli. at geological, biological and "It happens that Kinabalu forest, mountain, lake, desert, Malaysia, Sabah). "Why Kinabalu Park, one may The birth of Mt Kinabalu was cultural aspects togeth~r so Park has such value and so does monument, building, complex or This was followed by ,the ask. Basically, it is a source of the culmination of geological that we provide information the Hills Park which city) that is listed by the UNESCO formation of a Task Force made geological heritage for Malaysia in processes in western Sabah to the tourists and give them a has potential to be declared as as of special cultural or physical up of representatives from Sabah general and Sabah in particular. whiich began about 40 million complete picture of the history of a UNESCO Global Geopark. significance. Parks and the Department for We want to conserve this for the years ago. the geopark, " he explained. However, if the communities are Ludi informed Christina that the task of carrying out field present and future generations not Geologically, Kinabalu Park An international expert on not interested, we cannot develop a dossier on "Aspiring Kinabalu surveys to identify and determine only for its ecological functions is a granite intrusion formed 15 UNESCO Global Geoparks, any geopark because. this is a Geopark" was being prepared for the boundary of the proposed but also for education, recreation million years ago and thrusted Prof Dr Ibrahim stressed that bottom-up approach, a~d not top- submission to UNESCO. 'Geopark.

r----;----;--~-'~--.----~ ....-.