SLEMAN - South Kalimantan Provincial Government plans to make Meratus Mountain area as National Geopark by developing its geological heritage as a tourist attraction in the region. Currently there are 120 global geoparks listed in UNESCO and two of them are in Indonesia, namely Mount Batur in Balai and Sewu Mountains in Gunung Kidul.

"The South Kalimantan provincial government plans to make Meratus be a national geopark. The determination of geopark area aims to protect the geological heritage and utilize, explore and develop it as a tourist attraction attraction. "Said Isharwanto, Head of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), South Kalimantan, at the Signing of Cooperation Agreement between Dineas ESDM South Kalimantan with Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at UPN Condong Catur Campus, Tuesday (17/04/2018).

South Kalimantan provincial government has conducted research and early study in the area of ??Meratus assisted by UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY).

"I know a lot of experts at UPN who can help us realizing Meratus into Geopark," he said.

Currently there are 120 global geopark areas in the world listed in UNESCO and spread across 33 countries. Two of them are in Indonesia, namely Batur and Gunung Sanur.

"For the development of geopark and geoheritage, we also work with Bojonegoro regency. We will also prepare Geoheritage Gunung Sewu which will be re-assessed this year, "said Jatmiko Setiawan, Head of UPNVY Geology Department.

Developing Meratus became Geopark, he continued, is not only to maintain the geological heritage but it is also the driving force of the economy as a tourist destination.

The commitment of South Kalimantan Provincial Government together with UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta build Meratus Geopark is written in the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation of Meratus Geopark Document Formation signed on April 10, 2018.

The Meratus Mountains lie in the southeast of Borneo, stretching in the north-south along 600 square kilometers. This area has high biodiversity. (wwj / humas)