Sarawak Delta Geopark: Its natural value will not be compromised

KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is optimistic that the Sarawak Delta Geopark will become Malaysia’s third United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geopark (UGGp).

Targeted to attain global geopark status by 2026, he said that experts from UNESCO have been engaged to assess the heritage value of Sarawak’s geopark.

He said if the Sarawak Delta Geopark meets all the necessary criteria, it could be presented to the UNESCO Board for consideration.

This would be a similar process to what Niah and Mulu underwent before being recognised as UNESCO sites.

“Currently, Malaysia has two UNESCO Global Geoparks – the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark and Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark.

“Our plan is to ensure that development does not compromise the preservation of our environment, particularly in terms of the geopark’s value.

“If Sarawak succeeds, it would be just right, making it the third UNESCO Geopark in Malaysia,” he said.

He told the media this after officiating at an International Seminar on Sarawak Delta Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark at Riverside Majestic Hotel today (Oct 7).

Abang Johari asserted that if Sarawak is granted the recognition, it would bring benefits in terms of education and environmental conservation.

He stressed the importance of promoting quality tourism over mass tourism, noting that environmentally conscious tourists are less likely to harm Sarawak’s natural resources.

“That’s why, when I was the Minister for Tourism, we focused not on mass tourism, but rather on quality tourism that doesn’t cause harm.

“These are tourists who won’t leave behind plastic bottles and other wastes,” he said.

Additionally, Abang Johari said that Sarawak would use Jeju Island UNESCO Global Geopark as a model in its efforts to achieve the recognition.

“Jeju Island has a rich geological heritage, so we are using it as a model for our own efforts.

“Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh along with his delegation has also visited Jeju Island to ensure that Sarawak Delta Geopark meets the criteria required for the UGGp status,” he added.

For the record, Sarawak Delta Geopark has been accorded the national geopark status during the National Geopark Committee Meeting on 20 June 2022.

With a size of 3,112 square kilometres, it is home to various tribes that inhabit, sustain themselves and cultivate their distinct cultures and traditions, all of which are intricately tied to the region’s natural resources.

The geological history of the area reflects significant transformations in the Earth’s surface driven by tectonic activities.

Sarawak Delta Geopark is located in the West Borneo Block, which is part of the larger Sundaland region, representing a fragment formed from the collision between the Sibumasu Block and the Indochina/East Malaya/West Borneo Block around 250 million years ago, contributing to the geological diversity of international significance.