Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — UNESCO has issued a positive preliminary assessment of the Toba Caldera Geopark in North Sumatra during its revalidation mission conducted from July 21–25, 2025.
Yuda Pratiwi Setiawan, Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Office for Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, said the UNESCO evaluation team expressed favorable impressions on the first day of their site inspections.
“On the first day of the revalidation process, the UNESCO assessors gave positive feedback on Toba Caldera,” Yuda state, as reported by Antara.
The visiting delegation included Professor Jose Brilha of Portugal and Dr. Jeon Yongmun of South Korea, both of whom toured several key geological sites or geosites within the UNESCO Global Geopark.
The team visited at least four geosites: Sipinsur, a scenic natural destination overlooking Lake Toba; Hutaginjang, a highland village formed from volcanic ash; Taman Eden 100, a 40-hectare ecological park featuring over 100 plant species and a waterfall; and the Sibaganding Forest, home to a primate nature park.
“All four sites have been well-managed, which made a strong impression on the assessors,” Yuda said.
The Toba Caldera Geopark’s revalidation comes two years after UNESCO issued a “yellow card” warning during the Global Geopark Council meeting in Morocco in September 2023. The yellow card served as a formal notice that the park had not yet met all required criteria and needed improvements before undergoing another review.
The Toba Caldera UNESCO Global Geopark Management Agency confirmed that the revalidation process aims to determine whether the park can retain its Global Geopark status.
“From Sipinsur to the Geopark Information Centre (GIC), we’ve received very positive feedback,” Yuda said. “However, we still need to deepen our understanding of the geological features at each geosite.”
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Yuda also emphasized that UNESCO’s input would be communicated to local governments and agencies across the Lake Toba region. The feedback is expected to encourage better coordination between the provincial administration, seven regencies surrounding the lake, and other stakeholders to improve the park’s overall management.
“We’re not perfect, there are still areas that need improvement. But we are committed to continued progress and better stewardship of the Toba Caldera,” she added.
Professor Jose Brilha also offered specific recommendations, particularly on preserving the park’s geological heritage, such as rock formations, historical locations, and other geologically significant materials.
“The essence of a geopark is preserving these natural treasures including rock formations, their history, and materials for future generations,” Brilha said.
(Raidi/Agung)
