TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Meratus Geopark, located in South Kalimantan Province, has been officially designated as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGG). This decision was made at the 221st session of the UNESCO Executive Board held in Paris, France.
The Secretary of the Meratus Geopark Development Agency, Hanifah Dwi Nirwana, expressed her appreciation for this achievement. She congratulated the governor, the community, and all stakeholders in South Kalimantan who have contributed to developing the area.
"Congratulations to the Meratus Geopark Management Agency, the Governor of South Kalimantan, and the entire community of South Kalimantan," said Hanifah in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 1, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
According to Hanifah, the journey towards this global recognition has not been easy. Therefore, she urges all community elements to build the Meratus Geopark together to be more well-known globally, while also making it a driving force for South Kalimantan's economy, social, and environmental preservation.
Together with the Kebumen Geopark in Central Java, Meratus Geopark successfully convinced the 58 member countries of the UNESCO Executive Board of the importance of their geological and cultural heritage. This designation was made by consensus on 16 new geopark proposals from 11 countries that had been recommended earlier by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in September and December 2024.
With the addition of these two new sites, Indonesia now has 12 UNESCO Global Geoparks. Previously, there were Batur, Belitong, Ciletuh, Gunung Sewu, Ijen, Maros Pangkep, Merangin Jambi, Raja Ampat, Rinjani Lombok, and Toba Caldera, which had previously received similar recognition.
Geological and Cultural Footprints of Meratus
The Meratus Geopark is an area with high geological value. This region records a complex tectonic evolution that began during the Jurassic period, around 201 to 145 million years ago. Not only that, Meratus is also home to the oldest ophiolite series in Indonesia and has valuable mineral contents, including diamonds.
This geological uniqueness shapes a landscape that supports biodiversity. Various orchid species, such as moon orchids and sugar cane orchids, thrive in this area. Meanwhile, the proboscis monkey has become the mascot of South Kalimantan Province, thanks to the successful restoration of its mangrove habitat, which is its main home in the Meratus Geopark area.
Meratus is also rich in culture. Two native communities, the Banjar and Dayak tribes, live side by side and preserve their ancestral traditions. The Lok Baintan Floating Market, renowned for its trading activities on small boats (canoes), traditional Dayak Meratus bamboo transportation called Balanting Paring, and the traditional Sasirangan cloth, which has been known since 1335, are important parts of the region's cultural identity.
The Meratus Geopark also actively organizes various cultural and tourism activities such as the Meratus Great Culture Carnival, Geopark Run, and Floating Market Festival, strengthening its position as a nature and culturally based tourist destination.
Yunia Pratiwi and Savero Aristia Wienanto contributed to the writing of this article
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