Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Toba Caldera Geopark in North Sumatra has received a “yellow card” warning from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing poor management and inadequate supporting infrastructure.
Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development at Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, Hariyanto said that UNESCO evaluation team identified several shortcomings in the management of the geopark.
According to Antara, UNESCO assessed that coordination among stakeholders involved in the park’s management remains weak, and local community engagement in educational and sustainable tourism activities is still limited. The team also noted a lack of standardized information at geological sites and insufficient maintenance of facilities at various geosites.
UNESCO emphasized the need for continuous research at geological sites, stronger inter-institutional collaboration, and improved public education on the geological, biological, and cultural aspects of the Toba Caldera Geopark.
In addition to management issues, UNESCO also flagged the Toba Caldera Geopark Management Body for its minimal participation in regional and international forums.
Read Also:
Two Geoparks in Indonesia Join the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network
In response, the Indonesian government pledged swift corrective action. Hariyanto said a site development plan is currently being drafted by the geopark management agency in coordination with North Sumatra’s Department of Energy and Mineral Resources.
“The site plan will help guide improvements in infrastructure and facilities throughout the geopark,” he noted.
The government plan to allocating Rp56.6 billion (approximately $3.5 million) from 2024 special funding to support the development of amenities and attractions in marine and inland ecotourism areas within the geopark.
As part of efforts to meet UNESCO’s standards ahead of the park’s revalidation review, the Ministry of Tourism and the Toba Caldera Geopark management will host an international seminar on June 26, 2025. The event will feature geologists and cultural experts, including Prof. Mega Fatimah Rosana, Ph.D, and Ananto K. Seta, Ph.D from Indonesia, as well as Prof. Ibrahim Komo, Ph.D from Malaysia.
The Ministry of Tourism, together with the North Sumatra provincial government and the Geopark Management Body, reaffirmed their commitment to making necessary improvements in hopes of restoring the geopark’s “green card” status.
(Raidi/Agung)
