In a bid to promote geoheritage tourism in West Sumatra, eight sites boasting stunning natural landscapes have been proposed to be turned into geoparks.

These are: Harau Valley, known as the Indonesian version of the world renowned Yosemite National Park in the United States; Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), known for its volcanic and tectonic trace; Lake Maninjau, a caldera lake that was formed by the eruption of a supervolcano; and Lake Singkarak, an active tectonic lake.

The list also includes the tectonic-volcanic Twin Lake; Sawahlunto, a historical city where coal mining activities began in Indonesia; Anai valley, which is known for its waterfall; and Tarusan Kamang Mudiak, a double-color karst lake.

The sites were selected by an independent local group called the Ranah Minang Geoparks Community, which had conducted an assessment on potential geoparks to propose to the government, and later, to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“The eight sites have the potential to be recognized as national geoparks, and some even have the potential to be named as world geoparks by UNESCO,” the Ranah Minang spokesperson Ade Edward told The Jakarta Post.

Harau Valley in Limapuluh Kota regency could even be acknowledged as a world geopark, he added, as the site boasts unique features that can’t be found anywhere else in Indonesia.

The Kelok Sembilan (Nine Turns) area, for example, showcases a megastructure made of six winding bridges, while the Harau Valley in Mahik has thousands of menhir.

Indonesia has only two sites that are recognized by the UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network, namely the Mount Batur caldera in Bali and Mt. Sewu in East Java.

“Their [proposed sites] recognition as a national or even global geopark will help boost tourism in West Sumatra,” Ade said.

The realization of this, he added, would require support from the local people and local administrations who can help facilitating all the necessary requirements for the proposal.

The Ranah Minang Geoparks Community hopes to have the eight sites declared as national geoparks by the end of 2018, in order to present them to UNESCO as global geoparks by the end of 2019.

As geoparks, Ade said, they could be developed for natural tourism, as a conservation area or used for research and education purposes in the fields of archeology, ecology and culture.

West Sumatra Tourism Agency head Oni Yulfian welcomed the community’s efforts, saying that they would indeed help boost tourism in the province.

“Although some of the sites are already renowned, their status as geoparks will further enhance their attraction as tourist destinations and help us promote them,” Oni said, adding that the tourism agency would also help coordinate among regencies in promoting the sites.

Cooperation among local administrations was needed especially for the sites stretched across two regencies, such as Lake Singkarak, which is located in both Solok and Tanah Datar.

“That’s why we are preparing to have a meeting with local officials to decide on what to do next to help push the naming of the sites as geoparks,” he said.

Limapuluh Kota deputy regent Ferizal Ridwan echoed Oni’s sentiments regarding support.

“This effort clearly supports our plan to make Harau Valley a globally known tourist resort because it has the supporting potential, such as thousands of menhir and the discovery of teeth belonging to prehistoric people that are estimated to be 70,000 years,” Ferizal said.

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