Myanmar pursues UNESCO Global Geopark

 

EFFORTS are being made for Mount Popa National Geopark to be recognized as one of the 213 UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Mount Popa National Park was declared the country’s first national geopark on 6 December 2023. The site is rich in geosites and biodiversities and is a promising area for tourism development. Currently, it has 15 geosites, and 15 new geosites are being developed.

The proposed 15 new geosites are Popa Tuff, Popa Taungkalat, Kyauk Koepwint Hill, Petrified Sal, Taungnauk Hill, Kyetmauktaung Dam, Hotel Linn Museum, Lahar, Augite Andesite Stone Forest, Sinzin Pyroclastic Bed and Waterfall, Ngwetwin Hill, Shwetwin Hill, Hillside Village (North) Toreva Block, Myauktaw Totrsa Block, Chaungphya Ancient Iron Furnace and Royal Elephant Camp.

Among them, Popa Taungkalat, Kyauk Koepwint Hill, Augite Andesite Stone Forest, Kyetmauktaung Dam, Hotel Linn Museum, Ngwetwin Hill, Chaungphya Ancient Iron Furnace and Royal Elephant Camp are recognized as additional eight geosites.

“Myanmar does not possess global geopark, but some ASEAN countries do. We declared Mount Popa National Park as a national geopark. It contains 15 geosites, and we are trying hard to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. We completed field studies to place the road directions and notice boards in these 15 geosites from 16 to 21 September. We also recognized eight out of 15 proposed geosites. If a nation has a geopark, it can bring benefits such as environmental conservation, research, tourism, and job opportunities. It is also a source of pride for the country,” said U Zaw Win Lwin, staff officer of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration.

At present, 213 geoparks are found in 48 countries. In Asia, 44 geoparks were found in China, whereas ten were in Indonesia, two in Thailand, two in Malaysia and one in the Philippines.  

Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH

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