KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Global Geopark has recognised Kinabalu Geopark in Sabah as Malaysia’s 2nd Global Geopark on Thursday.

The Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said his ministry thanked Unesco Executive Board for the recognition finalised in Paris on May 25, 2023, which included 17 other geoparks.

"Kinabalu Geopark with an area of 4,750 square kilometres covering the districts of Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and part of Ranau district and having 46 geosites, 12 biosites and eight cultural sites was recognised as a National Geopark on March 18, 2020.

"This geopark is managed by the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees in collaboration with other stakeholders. Kinabalu Geopark was assessed by a panel of evaluators of the Unesco Global Geopark (UGGp) network on July 18 to 21, 2022,” he said in a statement today.

He said with the recognition of Kinabalu Geopark as a UGGp, Sabah has completed all three Unesco programmes, namely World Heritage Site (WHS), Man and the Biosphere (MAB) and Unesco Global Geopark (UGGp).

"The three Unesco programmes managed by Sabah Parks have put Malaysia with several countries that have earned the title "Triple Crown”.

"Besides, this recognition is another national achievement that is very meaningful especially to the state government and local authorities (PBT) in efforts to preserve the sustainability of nature and the sustainable management of the Unesco Global Geopark area which has international importance in line with the National Development Agenda and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) under the United Nations (UN),” he said.

He said, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) will continue to support and work with state governments to nominate other national geoparks that meet the Global Geopark criteria under Unesco to gain international recognition.

In 2007 Langkawi, Kedah was the first location to be recognised as a Unesco Global Geopark due to its natural beauty and international geological heritage value. — Bernama