Langkawi strengthens international network to maintain geopark status

LANGKAWI: The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) is strengthening its international network to ensure that Unesco maintains its recognition of Langkawi Geopark, Lada chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli said today.
He said maintaining a network of cooperation with other countries with existing geoparks or which were developing one was important in working together to improve the various aspects of geopark development.
"For example, during this Geofest, we have attracted the interest of several countries with existing geoparks and those in the process of developing their geoparks, namely Satun, Thailand; Vietnam and Jeju, South Korea, to join us in sharing information on geoparks.
"This sort of programme is imperative in increasing public and tourist awareness on the importance of nature conservation with the consideration of biodiversity as well as geodiversity," he told reporters after launching the 2014 Langkawi Geofest at Laman Padi here.
Khalid said that during the re-evaluation next year, activities held or the organisation of Geofest programmes would be one of the criteria that would be taken into account.
He said initiatives taken to maintain the geopark status required the cooperation and full support of all parties, including government departments, the private sector, NGOs and the people of Langkawi.
In this connection, he said, any organisation was welcome to organise programmes of interest in Langkawi to promote the legendary island at the international level.
Meanwhile, the three-day festival which began today includes cultural performances, food sales and demonstrations on making traditional delicacies, craft workshops and "wayang kulit" (shadow play) performances.
Khalid said Langkawi was declared a geopark by the state government in May 2006, and gained recognition as a global geopark from the Global Geoparks Network, supported by Unesco, in June 2007.
The last time Langkawi Geopark was evaluated was in 2010 and the status was accorded again for 2011 until 2015. – Bernama