THE POTENTIAL OF GEOPARK IN KENONG,
KUALA LIPIS, MALAYSIA
Noor Izzan Nordin, Civil Engineering Department, Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah E-mail: [email protected]
Zuraini Din, Civil Engineering Department, Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah E-mail: [email protected]
Noriza Mat Hashim Civil Engineering Department, Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract National Geoparks create awareness of the importance of geological processes for the development of the earth’s surface, the distribution of natural resources. Nowadays, growing public awareness of the necessity for the conservation and protection of geological and geomorphological features and play an important role in our ecosystem. This study is to propose Kenong as a future of Geoparks. The objectives of study are to promote geological heritage to the public as well as to support sustainable economic development of the area through the development of geological tourism. Qualitative methods are use in collecting data and the instrument used is observations. The main findings are Geofeatures inventory and issues, concerns and opportunities based on the parameter. Kenong has the characteristics which are a Geopark has to encompass a particular geological heritage, with specific geological and geomorphological features. Both of them are important in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value.
Keywords: Geopark, Heritage, Geoscience education, Sustainable development
1. Introduction A Geopark location contains a few geologically or geomorphological features. This location is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way and also promotes the economic well-being of the people who live there. According to the UNESCO, Global Geopark Network (2006), a Geopark is defined as a territory with a particular geological heritage of international significance, rarity or aesthetic appeal which is developed as part of an integrated concept of conservation, education and local economic development.
National Geoparks create awareness of the importance of geological processes for the development of the Earth’s surface, the distribution of natural resources, land use and also the economic and cultural history. A Geopark must have a sufficiently large surface area to develop a sustainable development strategy. It must have a clear boundary and it must be managed by a clearly defined management structure. Zouros & Valiakos (2010), stated a Geopark requires an efficient, flexible and possible management plan or guidelines in order to maintain the originality, quality and sustainability of the geo-heritage area. All Geoparks must not only be active by local means, but also by the means of the Geopark community, and thus cooperate on mutual projects and exchange of ideas for the improvement of promoting their activities. Geoparks are run by local communities which can recognise and wish to confirm their geological, historical and cultural heritage. Geoparks give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their identification with the area. Geoparks use their activities to attract a large number of visitors and enable the founding of different manufacturing and utilities which help improve the social-economic development of the community. Thus, the important geological features within the Geopark area must be accessible to visitors. The creation of innovative local enterprises, new jobs and high-quality training courses is stimulated as new sources of revenue are generated through geo-tourism, while the geological resources of the area are protected. The objectives of study are to promote geological heritage to the public as well as to support sustainable economic development of the area through the development of geological tourism.
2. Area of Study The name of the area proposed for inclusion in the Global UNESCO Network of Geoparks is the “Kenong Geopark”. The proposed of Geopark site is located at Kenong, Kuala Lipis in Lipis district of Pahang, Malaysia. Lipis District is located in the Northern Corridor Pahang economic activities focused on agriculture, mining and forestry. The site is one of place are rich the geological and geomorphological features. The area of study is Kenong. Preface the geological heritage interest of Kenong is based primarily on three factors, i.e., a large continuous sedimentary series, a network of rivers that exposing this sedimentary series and the scarcity of population and industrial development have preserved geological heritage in optimal conditions for study.
3. The Content Analysis Study
Qualitative methods are use in collecting data and the instrument used is observations.
3.1 Geology and Geomorphology Inventory Table 1 below shows the inventory for geology and geomorphology for Yong Reserve Forest, Kenong Rimba Park, Forested State land outside Hutan Simpan Yong and villages.
Table 1. Geology and geomorphology inventory PARAMETER AREA DESCRIPTION UNIQUENESS Geology Yong Formation Mostly the Reserve Kayu Ara Volcanic geological Forest, Kenong Limestone features in Kenong Telong Formation Kenong are Rimba Fossils uniqueness Park, Microscopic fossils and nowhere Forested of foraminifera else. State land Algae outside Coral formations Hutan Rocks Simpan Sedimentary Yong and Igneous villages. Older metamorphic
rock
Plutonic rock
Limestone The uniqueness i) Batu Tinggi Cave of tectonic in
ii) Batu Kajang Cave limestone may
iii) Batu Tangga Cave attract visitors iv) Telungkup Cave to come the
v) Harimau Cave geopark. vi) Batu Gajah Cave vii) Kesong Cave viii) Buta Cave ix) Hijau Cave
Lubuk Puteri Latar Babi Waterfall Lata Kenong 7 Step Waterfall Batu Hampar Kesong Mount
Kesong River Kenong River Geomorphology Forest Flora Tualang tree
Shrub Mushroom Fauna Frog Termite Birds Fish Elephants Snakes Villages Indigeneous people Batek people (nomads and gatherers) Village house Traditional old Melayu house Foods Nasi Kebuli
4. Result and Recommendation
4.1 Result - Issues, Concerns and Opportunities Table 2 below shows the Issues, concerns and opportunities in Kenong, Kuala Lipis based on Natural Heritage Management parameter.
Table 2. Issues, concerns and opportunities
PARAMETER AREA ISSUES CONCERN OPPORTUNITY Natural Hutan Leasing Uncontrolled Sustainable Heritage Simpan System for logging environment as Management Yong and the Kenong a geopark Kenong Rimba Park Rimba Park management Villages Uncontrolled Nuisance of Promote the Rivers fishing biodiversity water activities activities Forested Uncontrolled Damage the Logging State land logging uniqueness of sustainable outside activities natural Hutan features Simpan Yong Limestones out crops outside Hutan Simpan Yong Local State land Lack of Less Protection of Involvement in cooperation awareness nature resources Conservation between local about the by community and community important of based Management of themselves flora and Natural and external fauna in Heritage agencies Kenong Villages Poor Lack of Communicati understanding on between regarding the local people information and agencies given Less Local participation community by local not interests community to involve in natural resources Economic State Unbalance No tourist Increase the Development government logging connection of activities and tourism around tourism geosites of Kenong Local Migration of Loss the Provide job community local younger future opportunity generations generation to Focus on develop the agriculture local economy activities as a main income
Protection and Forest Lack of Loss of nature Sustainable Conservation State land legislative features in environment to of Natural Villages protection Kenong be a geopark Heritage Environmental Forested Uncontrolled Pollution Sustainable State land destruction of (water, air and environment to outside forest land) be a geopark Hutan Simpan Yong Limestones out crops outside Hutan Simpan Yong Hutan Simpan Yong and Kenong Rimba Park
4.2 Recommendation
4.2.1 Size and Setting Each Geopark should display though a range of sites of international, regional and/or national importance, a region’s geological history, and the events and processes that formed it. The proposed Lipis Geopark is located in the Kenong, which is situated in the Lipis District. Kenong divided to three section, i.e., Yong Reserve Forest and Kenong Rimba Park; State Land and two main villages adjacent to the forest are Kg. Kuala Kenong and Kg. Batu Sembilan as shown at Figure 1 Kenong is borders with National Park at the northeast with coordinate (4.18N, 102.2E) liked to National Park.
Lagend Yong Forest Reserve & Kenong Rimba Park State land Kg. Kenong Figure 1. Kenong map (Source: JUPEM, 2016)
4.2.1.1 Surface area (Geology and geomorphology), physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark
4.2.1.1(a) Geology Surface Area characteristics of the proposed Geopark Kenong have a lot of geological and geographical features. All the geology features have valuable and suitable as a geopark site. The combination of geological and geomorphological features in this site attract the local and international visitors. Both of the sites related to the geology. There are several branches of geology such as physical geology, paleontology, petrology, sedimentology, geochemistry and structure geology. The sites impress a lot of land formations, unique ecosystem, lifestyle and culture.
The geology of this site consists of Kayu Ara Volcanic, Kenong Limestone and Telong Formation (Figure 2). All three formations of the same age, which is said to be the Middle Permian to Middle Triassic (about 260 million - 220 million years ago) (Mohamed & Ali, 2010).
Figure 2. Geology map in Kenong (Source: Jasmi Talib, 1990)
Prolonged weathering processes have carved these rocks into beautiful and interesting karst landscapes such as mogotes, sinkholes, caves and beautiful cave formations (speleotherms) and subterranean rivers. The subterranean river is a river that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground surface. Figure 3 shows the subterranean river at Batu Kajang Cave, Kenong.
Figure 3. Subterraean river (Batu Kajang Cave, Kenong) (Source: Own picture, 2016)
Beside that many fossils, especially microscopic fossils of foraminifera, algae and coral formations found (Hareyani, 2001; Mohd Nazaruddin, 2001). Figure 4 shows the Microscopic fossils at Kenong. Earth crust is made up of rocks. Rock consist of mineral. Figure 5 shows the rock cycle. Existing rock can be found in this site namely sedimentary, igneous and older metamorphic rock.
Figure 4. Microscopic fossils at Kenong (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
Figure 5. Rock cycle (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
Sedimentary rock formed by accumulation of sediment in water (sea, river and lake) or from air (desert). Sediment rock consist of mixture of rock clasts, minerals, remnants of animal and plants. Formed in layered sequences call beds. Names base on grain size or chemical composition such as sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, shale, lime stone and coal. Sedimentary rock was found at the Kenong site as shown at Figure 6 (a). While Figure 6 (b) shows the plutonic rock at the Kenong area. On surface is volcanic rock and below surface is plutonic rock. The plutonic rock such as granite, diorite, etc. Figure 7 shows the lime stone and sand stone at Kenong. This unique ecosystem is linked not only the origin of these site and their geology but also the environmental elements such as terrain and climate. Example of metamorphic rock are gneiss, slate, marble, schist and quartzite.
(a) (b) Figure 6. (a) Sedimentary rock (b) Plutonic rock (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
(a) (b) Figure 7. (a) Lime stone, and (b) Sand stone (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
Natural environments such as the undisturbed forests and geology physical conditions (of river, rock and soil) also as an attraction site, especially those tourist from foreign countries who love to venture into the tranquillity of tropical rain forests. Kenong is home to pockets of limestone caves which have become the destination of splunking enthusiasts and lowland area. This is why the proposed site is suitable for Geopark as well. Beside cave, in Kenong site also have beautiful place includes Bukit Hangus, Lata Kenong 7 Step Waterfall, Gunong Putih, Kesong Mount, Bukit Kayu Ara, and others. Figure 8 shows the map of interest geological in Kenong. There are nine interest limestone in Kenong with their own history and uniqueness includes Batu Tinggi Cave, Batu Kajang Cave, Batu Tangga Cave, Telungkup Cave and also 5 cave in Kesong Mount like Buta Cave, Hijau Cave, Kesong Cave, Harimau Cave and Gajah Cave (Figure 9 and 10). Beside cave, Lata Babi, Lubuk Puteri, Kesong River also the beautiful places in Kenong (Figure 11 and Figure 12).
(Source: Jupem, 2016)
Lagend
Figure 8. Location of geological interest in Kenong (Source: Jupem, 2016) Lagend
(a) (b) (c) (d) Figure 9. (a) Harimau Cave, (b) Hijau Cave , (c) Gajah Cave , and (d) Lubuk Puteri (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
(a) (b) Figure 10. (a) Kesong Cave, and (b) Buta Cave (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
(a) (b) Figure 11. (a) Kesong River, (b) Batu Hampar (Source: (a) Mansor Ahmad, 2016; (b) own picture)
(a) (b) Figure 12. (a) Lata Babi, (b) Lata Kenong 7 Step (Source: (a) Mansor Ahmad, 2016; (b) own picture)
The unique features in the site such as stalactite, stalagmite, pillar, curtain stone, calcite crystal and flow stone. The features formed by water action. Figure 13 shows the naturalistic stalactite and stalagmite in Telungkup Cave, Kenong. Figure 14 shows the curtain in Kenong cave.
Figure 13. The naturalistic stalactite and stalagmite in Telungkup Cave, Kenong (Source: Own picture, 2016)
Figure 14. Curtain, Kenong (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016)
4.2.1.1(b) Geomorphology, physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark
The tropical rainforest is strangely known to cover high diversity and richness of tree species and this has been reported in many studies (Newbery et al. 1996; Webb & Peart 2000). The flora and fauna that make up the natural landscape of this site are truly special. The forest area is important movement zone for wildlife from National Park nearby. Here is where the virgin jungle has existed for 100 millions years, undisturbed by the ice age which covered the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, here is where the flora and fauna have the opportunity to evolve into exotic and unique species.
Nizam et al. (2012) informed in their study, a total of 2091 trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) of 5 cm and of which overall floristic composition consisted of 322 species from 161 genera and 54 families in Kenong Rimba Park area. Figure 15 shows the example vegetation in proposed are includes (a) Flora at Kenong, (b) Tualang tree, and (c) Fungus at Kenong.
(a) (b) (c) Figure 15 (a) Flora at Kenong, (b) Tualang tree, and (c) Fungus at Kenong (Source: (a) and (b) Own picture, 2016; (c) Mansor Ahmad, 2016 )
In Kenong there is variety of fauna richness in this proposed area includes mammalian, reptilian, insect, fish, bird and amphibian. The mammalian species found here such as elephant, tiger, panther and others. Figure 16 shows the evidence that mammalian species founded at the Kenong. Reptilian species such as snacks, scorpion, and others. Beside that, in Kenong also have a lot of birds species, fish and insect. An example insect spices showed at figure 17 and 18 and fish.
(a) (b) (c) Figure 16 (a) Tiger feces, (b) Elephant feces, and (c) Panther footprint (Source: Mansor Ahmad,2016 )
(a) (b) (c) Figure 17. Insect species (a) butterfly, (b) spider and (c) bee (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016 )
(a) (b) Figure 18. (a) Fish (Kepar), and (b) Reptilian (scorpion) (Source: Mansor Ahmad, 2016 )
The indigenous people in Kenong are the Batek people whose an indigenous tribe still living a life as they have for generations. The Batek people are nomads and gatherers. It was found that the Batek continues to this day, their old business of gathering and selling gaharu wood chips to traders who come from as far away as the Middle Eastern countries. However, the depleting supply of this aromatic wood and troubled times in the Middle East have forced the Batek people to look elsewhere to provide them income. Figure 19 shows the Indigenous people settlement in Kenong.
Figure 19. Indigenous people settlement (Source: Own picture, 2016)
4.3 Economic Development The main strategic objectives of a Geopark is to promote geological heritage to the public as well as to support sustainable economic development of the area through the development of geological tourism. A Geopark seeking UNESCO's assistance serves to foster socio-economic development that is culturally and environmentally sustainable. Due to sustain the environment, the establishment of a Geopark shall stimulate the creation of innovative local business, small business, cottage industries, initiate high quality training courses and new jobs opportunities by generating new sources of local income while protecting the geo-resources of the Geopark. Economic activity in Kenong geopark played a very significant role in the geo-tourism and retains many traditional industrial activities and related communities. Geo-tourism related to the economic, business-oriented and fast-moving discipline which is a new tourism sector involving strong multidisciplinary cooperation. Sustainable tourism and other economic activities within a Geopark area (Kenong) are very important and must be carried out in the management of geopark. Tourism activities adhere to individual site management plans and authority and respect the cultural character of the area. Like in many regions, it is necessary to involve the indigenous community in the establishment of a Geopark area and partnership. This is because, Kenong can be geoparks that deliver the link between geology and culture. Main economic activities that utilise the Kenong is in the areas of tour guiding and tourism. Well-established companies Kenong operate geology and geomorphological observation tours in Kenong. The most popular activities in a Kenong that can be implemented includes geo-tourism: Due to rich and diverse a lot of limestone cave, flora and fauna habitats and natural monuments such as waterfalls, springs, and geosites which host several endemic species under protection, the Geopark attracts tourists with special and specific interests. Walking, climbing and cycling trails, provision of information, interpretation and research activities such as Conference Tourism: The area is suitable for seminars, meetings, events and conferences; signage and the development of modern museums and visitor centres may as economic activities. Stimulating activities in the population related to the geological theme and the creation of local agricultural and traditional craft products. Hence, the party involve should prepare the informational material on geology and nature as a whole, printing leaflets and other material, maintaining websites in order to give information to the visitors.
5. Conclusion Nowadays, growing public awareness of the necessity for the conservation and protection of geological and geomorphological features play an important role in our ecosystem. Hence, the Geopark concept offered the ability to identify, protect and promote areas or landscapes of geological and geomorphological importance. As we know, their main goals of pursuing activities in educating the public at large on the environment, promoting regional sustainable development, supporting training and development of scientific research in various disciplines. So that, this will be new potential for interaction between socio-economic development and conservation of the natural environment adds a new dimension to the scheme of the World Heritage List. It recognises as a central principle the relationship between people and geology and the ability of a site to serve as a focus for economic development, particularly through geotourism. Kenong have to be a geopark for recognising the important geological and geomorphological sites within their areas. This is because they serve as tools for demonstrating sustainable development and for illustrating methods of site conservation and it also will be a good idea to protect and promote the geological heritage through the sustainable economic development there. The idea behind the initiative is that true sustainable territorial development can be achieved through the protection and promotion of geological heritage for scientific, educational and tourism activities. Furthermore, Kenong have the characteristics which are a Geopark has to encompass a particular geological heritage, with specific geological, geomorphological and geographical features. Both of them are importance in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value. The contribution of the Geopark is thus seen through the enhancement and promotion of a certain image related to the geological heritage and the development of tourism with related actions. This contributes towards to a revalidation of the values of the territory’s heritage and enforces active participation to the territory’s cultural revitalization as a whole. Then, typical activities in a Kenong includes the development of walking and cycling trails, the training of local people to act as guides, education courses, provision of information signage and the development of modern museums and visitor centres. Hence, the proposed Kenong as a Geopark is to bring enhanced a lots of benefits for the people who live there. Practically the geopark is an initiative that can achieve international recognition for geological sites of local and regional importance. Based on UNESCO, Global Geopark is an integrated area with a significant geological heritage of international which is used to promote the development of local communities in a sustainable. The issues of Geopark became an international issue to preserve the geological heritage which has ties to the re- establishment of the earth. The concept of geopark was born as the tools, to help promote global environmental sustainability. Numerous areas in the world offer the immediate potential for substantial economic development because of the presence of a diverse range of geological phenomena including, amongst many others, structures, minerals and fossils. Geological heritage sites, properly managed, can generate employment and new economic activities, especially in regions in need of new or additional sources of income. Thus, the proposed of Kenong as a good for development as good for environmental conservation area of Kenong. Hence, in order to succeed this program, the party involved must enhance local community roles. Kenong must not only be active by local means, but also by the means of the Geopark community, and thus cooperate on mutual projects and exchange of ideas for the improvement of promoting their activities. Kenong will protect different geological specialities by exploring and promoting new ways and methods of protection. The administrations of Geoparks provide different measures of protection in cooperation with universities and scientific institutes, along with various management figures of local communities. The Geoparks must function in the way of local laws and tradition.
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