TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Geopark Ciletuh, Palabuhanratu, Sukabumi, West Java has become part of UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGG) following the issuance of its certificate ratified by Unesco General Director Audrey Azoulay.
“Thank God, we are grateful for the certificate issuance. We will soon hold an inauguration ceremony for UGG-Geopark Ciletuh, Palabuhanratu,” said the management head Deny Juanda at Bandung, on May 19.
“Thank you for all parties who concern and strive for the process of the certification of Unesco,” he added. The certificate is valid starting April 17, 2018, until April 16, 2022.
Throughout the year, Unesco had issued 12 geoparks from 11 countries as UGG. The ratification was delivered in 244th Unesco executive board, Programme and External Relations Commission, on Thursday, May 12, at Paris, France.
In Indonesia, four national geoparks had been listed in UGG namely Batur UNESCO Global Geopark, Gunung Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark, Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, and Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark.
West Java provincial government maintain the infrastructure development of the site since the certificate issuance. West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said in 2016, Rp96 billion had been allocated for the road development from the site gate Waluran to the Geopark.
Meanwhile, in 2017, the road construction from the gate Loji to Geopark cost Rp217 billion. “This year, we will build the road from Platiga gate which cost Rp 90 billion, including the Sukabumi airport project because one of the requirements becoming international geopark is the airport with a maximum travel distance of three hours,” the governor explained.
ANTARA