Ijen Geopark Gets UNESCO Recognition: All You Need to Know
- ANTARA FOTO/Irsan Mulyadi
East Java – Ijen Geopark is an area that located in two districts, namely Banyuwangi Regency and part of Bondowoso Regency, East Java.
In accordance with the UNESCO definition, Ijen Geopark meets the criteria as an area that has extraordinary geological features, while the local community also plays an active role in preserving the natural heritage.
The decision to designate this area as a National Geopark was announced through the Decision of the Indonesian National Geopark Committee on November 30, 2018.
The geopark is named after Mount Ijen, which also has geological significance throughout its territory. Currently, Ijen Geopark is in the process of being recognized by UNESCO as one of the best UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGG) in the world.
Kawah di puncak Gunung Ijen.
- BNPB
The UGG assessment team is evaluating the geological wealth, biodiversity, and cultural heritage of Ijen Geopark Banyuwangi for a period of five days, from June 9 to 13, 2022.
This area also has various geosites, biosites, and culturesites that are the wealth of Ijen Geopark.
Geosites are places that have important records of the history of the earth, usually in the form of shale and sandstone that can explain the development of the earth (geology), nature, living creatures, and culture from ancient times to the present.
In the Ijen Geopark area, there are several geosites including, Plalangan Lava Flow, Teluk Hijau Intrusion Rocks, Istana Cave, Kendenglembu Sediments, Watudodol, Fossils at Parang Ireng Beach, Pancur Beach Volcanic Rocks, Lider Kulon Waterfall, Grajagan Beach, Ijen Megasari Caldera Wall, Ijen Crater, Wurung Crater, and many more.
Also, the Ijen Geopark area have several biosites, including: Bondowoso Coffee Garden, Erek-erek Geoforest, Rainbow Forest, Sukamade Geo Forest, Pang-pang Bay Savanna, Sadengan, and Row of Culturesites in Ijen Geopark
