According to reporting from Antara News Bali, the Ijen area in East Java was officially confirmed as a UNESCO Global Geopark through an international conference in Marrakech, Morocco last week.
The inauguration was carried out by handing over the Ijen Geopark certificate as a “Global Geopark Network Institutional Member” for the period 2023-2026 to the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who was represented by the Head of the East Java Province Culture and Tourism Service, Hudiono, along with a number of other officials.
Governor Khofifah thanked all parties who care and preserve nature in Ijen. “This achievement is the result of all their hard work,” he said in a written statement received in Surabaya.
According to him, the confirmation of the Ijen area as a UNESCO Global Geopark will further bring East Java’s natural wealth to the world, adding that “we are optimistic that with this inauguration, tourists from all over the world will flock to Ijen.”
Antara News Bali report that Governor Khofifah said that for East Java, Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark is not just a tourist spot, but is one of Indonesia’s natural riches. “Located in two districts in East Java, namely Banyuwangi and Bondowoso, Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark has international outstanding value in the form of the existence of Bluefire and Lake Terasam,” he said.
Governor Khofifah explained, even though it has many advantages, it is not easy to get Ijen approved as a UNESCO Global Geopark because there are a number of strict criteria that must be met in terms of cultural value and management. Antara News Bali report that Governor Khofifah has issued Governor’s Decree Number 188/144/KPTS/013/2023 concerning Management of the Ijen Geopark for the period 2023-2024.
Apart from that, it encourages the establishment of other UNESCO Global Geoparks in East Java. “There is also the Geopark Youth Forum as a partner of the Geopark Management Agency. The aim is to ensure that more young people care more about the environment and the development of the creative economy in their home areas,” he said.
Source: Antara News Bali
Image by Andrea Maverick from Pixabay
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