This recognition was announced during the 11th Executive Committee Meeting of the Global Geopark Network Conference held in Kutralkura, La Araucania, Chile, on Saturday.
General Manager of the Toba Caldera Geopark Management Agency, Azizul Kholis, on Sunday expressed deep gratitude for the achievement, attributing it to the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
He especially acknowledged North Sumatra Provincial Administration for mobilizing support across the seven districts surrounding Lake Toba: Simalungun, Samosir, Toba, Humbang Hasundutan, North Tapanuli, Karo, and Dairi.
The green card is the highest rating within the Global Geopark Network. It signifies that a geopark meets UNESCO’s rigorous standards for geological heritage management, education, sustainable development, and community involvement.
Each member is revalidated every four years to ensure continued compliance.
This milestone follows a previous warning issued in September 2023, when UNESCO assigned a “yellow card” to the Toba Caldera Geopark for failing to meet several criteria. The green card now confirms that those deficiencies have been addressed.
“We hope this achievement becomes a catalyst for stronger collaboration and more tangible benefits for local communities,” Kholis said.
Indonesia currently maintains three UNESCO Global Geoparks: Toba Caldera, Ciletuh-Pelabuhan Ratu in West Java, and Rinjani Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara. The decisions regarding all three were announced by Setsuya Nakada, chair of the committee.
The current Global Geopark Network Meeting and International Conference takes place from September 5–12, 2025, in Kutralkura, Chile.
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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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