Maros Pangkep Geopark is part of the Global Geopark Network along with 17 other geoparks in the world.
"Alhamdulillah, Maros Pangkep UNESCO Global Geopark was officially established by UNESCO at the 216th UNESCO Executive Council meeting in Paris," Governor of South Sulawesi Andi Sudirman Sulaiman stated in Makassar, Thursday.
Sulaiman attributed the achievement to the hard work and collaboration of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, Maros District, Pangkep District, the Maros Pangkep Geopark Management Agency, and all parties under the auspices of the Geopark Management Agency.
"Let us maintain it together as well as a special attraction for tourism in South Sulawesi," he stated.
For the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, this is an extraordinary achievement from the Maros and Pangkep district governments and the Geopark Management Agency. This is due to the results of collaboration been echoed that have become the government's priority since it was initiated in 2015, and it thus became a national geopark in 2018 and a world geopark in 2023.
Becoming part of the UNESCO Global Park Network is a prestigious recognition given to an exceptional place or area for the geological site and international landscape and special importance.
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Those sites, along with important ecological, cultural, and archaeological heritage sites, are carefully managed through a comprehensive approach that includes conservation, education, research, and responsible tourism.
"This will also protect the area as a world heritage where this area has special characteristics in terms of geodiversity, then in terms of biodiversity or flora and fauna as well as cultural wealth," General Manager of the Maros Geopark Management Agency Pangkep Dedy Irfan Bachri stated.
Through the geopark concept, stakeholders are encouraged to work together, encourage tourism promotion and geoheritage conservation practices, disseminate geoscience education, raise environmental awareness, continue cultural heritage preservation, and foster sustainable development in the geopark.
"This is, of course, a matter of pride for South Sulawesi because this has gained worldwide attention wherein this region is being promoted internationally," he stated.
He said, the most important aspect about this status is that the community can receive maximum benefits from increasing tourist visits, economic value, and circulation in the area.
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Translator: Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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