24th October 2022 – UNESCO has officially listed Maros Pangkep Geopark in South Sulawesi as part of the UNESCO Global Park (UGG). This decision was followed after a meeting of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council in Thailand.
The management for the Maros Pangkep received the news from UNESCO on Monday (5/9) via e-mail. The General Manager of Maros Pangkep Management Agency, Dedy Irfan, said that he is grateful that the expectations of the Indonesian people, especially South Sulawesi, can be fulfilled.
According to him, the community has worked hand in hand in order for the geosite to meet the criteria of UNESCO international institutions. An official statement from UNESCO will follow in the near future.
Now that Maros Pangkep has officially become UNESCO Global Geopark, people’s interest towards it will increase to become a world tourist destination.
Through its deputy regent, the government of Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, Suhartina Bohari, said that the tourism sector and local community empowerment will be the main concern in order to keep the site in UNESCO’s qualification standards.
The legitimacy of UNESCO will have a major impact on the sustainability of the conservation in Maros Pangkep. Simultaneously, it can be an effective promotional tool to increase the interest of both domestic and foreign tourists.
The Maros Pangkep National Geopark (GNMP) or the Maros Pangkep Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (MPAUGGp) area covers 2 districts, Maros Regency and Pangkajene Islands Regency. Karst Maros Pangkep is one of the world-class karsts that features beauty, uniqueness, flora and fauna, and high scientific and socio-cultural values.
The site received National Geopark status in 2017 and is the 2nd largest karst area after South China.
As a geosite, there is a variety of sustainable nature-based tourism destinations in Maros Pangkep from sites, biological sites, and cultural sites.
