KUCHING: A dossier for the proposed Sarawak Delta Geopark (SDGp) will be finalised by the end of this month.
Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh said at the moment the draft dossier is being fine-tuned.
“All activities including the promotion and launch of SDGp will also be included in the dossier to show our seriousness in turning it into a national geopark.
“We expect this dossier to be finalised by the end of this month and submitted to the National Geopark Committee next month to gain national geopark status,” he said when speaking at the launching ceremony of SDGp at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) here today.
He also expressed gratitude to the state government for approving an allocation of RM2,045,000 in preparation for the recognition of SDGp as a national geopark.
“We hope that the federal government will also provide adequate allocation to Sarawak to support our efforts to gain recognition for the Sarawak Delta as the first geopark in Sarawak and subsequently gain recognition at the world level,” he said.
Len who is also the SDGp Steering Committee chairman, further said various efforts have been implemented by relevant ministries, departments and agencies through their respective working groups to ensure that the geopark gain recognition.
“I was informed that the Kuching Resident’s Office together with the relevant agencies will hold awareness programmes in several places to promote SDGp to the public.
“Additionally, several places have been identified to house the SDGp info centre while info panels have also been planned for installation at places with significant geosites such as the Endapan Daratan Tanjung Sapi, Strata Batuan Teluk Pandan Kecil, Penara Pulau Lakei, Ketakselarasan Tanjung Tgok, Hornfels Tanjung Said and Morfologi Kars Fairy/Wind Cave.
“We will also install info panels in significant biosites such as Kuching Wetland National Park, Bako National Park and Santubong National Park as well as cultural sites in SCV and the Bidayuh traditional villages in Bau and Padawan areas,” he said.
Covering an area of approximately 311,246 hectares, the SDGp will be the first geopark to cover a delta area.
