By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 9: The Sarawak Delta Geopark has cleared a major hurdle towards global recognition after being accepted by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council at its 10th session held at Kutralkura UNESCO Global Geopark in Chile recently.
Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, when contacted by DayakDaily today, confirmed that Sarawak Delta Geopark, alongside Lenggong Geopark in Perak, was among nine aspiring geoparks recommended and accepted by the Council to be inscribed as UNESCO Global Geoparks.
“The Council examined a total of 61 geoparks at the session, including nine aspiring geoparks from various countries.
“Out of these, Malaysia’s Sarawak Delta and Lenggong were both accepted, which means they are on track to be declared UNESCO Global Geoparks,” he said.
However, Len clarified that the formal endorsement will only be made at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris in May 2026.
“Once the Council accepts a geopark, the Executive Board normally follows suit.
“So, it is a significant milestone for Sarawak Delta Geopark as it moves closer to being officially inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark,” he added.
At the 10th session held on Sept 5 and 6, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council examined evaluation reports for nine aspiring geoparks, two area modification proposals from existing UNESCO Global Geoparks, progress reports on three deferred aspiring geoparks, 44 revalidation reports for UNESCO Global Geoparks, and three modification proposals involving less than 10 per cent of a geopark’s area.
The nine aspiring geoparks recommended are Changshan and Mt Siguniang (China), Terres d’Hérault (France), Miné-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau (Japan), Lenggong (Malaysia), Sarawak Delta (Malaysia), Algarvensis (Portugal), Dahar (Tunisia) and Manantiales Serranos (Uruguay).
The Sarawak Delta Geopark, covering an area of about 3,112 square kilometres, was declared a National Geopark in June 2021. It encompasses Kuching city and surrounding areas including Bau, Padawan, Siburan and parts of Samarahan, featuring a rich blend of geological, biological and cultural heritage.
Among its key attractions are the world-famous Kuching Wetlands National Park, the Bako National Park, the historic gold mining town of Bau, the iconic Mount Santubong as well as numerous caves, limestone formations and traditional villages.
The news was first shared on the Sarawak Delta Geopark’s official Facebook page yesterday (Sept 8), which stated that the delegation led by Sarawak Forest Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad is currently in Temuco, Chile, to participate in the 11th Global Geoparks Network Conference.
The post also highlighted that the Sarawak Delta Geopark had been officially accepted as a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network during the 10th Council Meeting, marking a significant milestone in advancing the conservation of geological, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
– DayakDaily
