KINABALU UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister, Hajiji Noor announced to the Sabah State Assembly that the Aspiring Kinabalu Geopark is now officially declared as the KINABALU UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK by UNESCO’s Executive Board together with 18 sites making the total number of geoparks 195 in 48 countries around the world.

The UNESCO Global Geopark label recognizes the geological heritage of international significance. Geoparks serve local communities by combining the conservation of their significant geological heritage with public outreach and a sustainable approach to development.

This is an outstanding achievement of the Government of Sabah under the “Sabah Maju Jaya” roadmap through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Sabah Parks.

KINABALU UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK Covering an area of 4,750 km2, adds significant value to the existing eco-tourism products in Sabah. It is home to many endemic plants and animals, including 90 orchid species that exist only on Mount Kinabalu, and the crimson-headed partridge bird not found anywhere else on Earth will bring direct and indirect benefits to the socio-economic of Sabah, particularly to more than 290,000 local communities within the district of Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Ranau.