Dumaring Geosite becomes national model for ancient karst conservation

The assessment team for the Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Geopark has officially inspected the Dumaring Limestone Geosite in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, to affirm the ancient karst area as a national model that successfully combines nature conservation with improving the local economy. Coordinator of the Dumaring Forest and River Collaboration and Conservation Programme, Nandang Muliana, stated on Friday that the limestone in this area holds very high scientific value, as the ancient rock is estimated to have formed between 11 and 3 million years ago. “The limestone here is not merely a commodity rock expanse, but the main support for the sustainability of the karst forest. This structure fully supports the life chain of various endemic flora and fauna within the area,” Nandang said while receiving the national assessment team. He revealed that through the Social Forestry Business Group, residents of Dumaring Village have successfully transformed the conservation paradigm into a source of income. The local community actively utilises non-timber forest products sustainably by cultivating various rare and high-value plant seedlings, including ulin trees (Kalimantan’s distinctive ironwood), mangrove plants (coastal guardians), and kapur trees (natural resin producers). Beyond the forestry sector, Nandang continued, economic diversification is achieved through the development of nature-based tourism destinations via the Dumaring Cave Park. This destination adopts a unique open trip concept with three main pillars: public education on the history of earth and cave formation, active environmental conservation by visitors, and the total involvement of the local community as guides and accommodation providers. The success of the Dumaring Geosite is inseparable from the implementation of a multi-stakeholder cooperation concept. The strong foundation of this area is built upon active synergy between the government as policy regulator, academics as providers of scientific databases, the business sector channelling supporting investment, and the local community as the main actors on the ground. “This visit by the Geopark Assessment Team is tangible proof that the ideal geopark concept does not only focus on rigidly protecting geological heritage,” Nandang said.