East Java targets Ijen Geopark UNESCO status renewal

“Ijen Geopark has completed its full international recognition cycle and is now ensuring its long-term quality through the 2026 revalidation,” East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said in a statement received in Surabaya on Wednesday.

She said the revalidation is a comprehensive review conducted every four years to ensure the geopark continues to meet UNESCO criteria.

The assessment evaluates current conditions, progress and achievements since its designation, and will determine Ijen Geopark’s standing within the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) network.

The outcome will place the geopark into one of three categories: Green Card, meaning status retained; Yellow Card, requiring improvements within two years; or Red Card, resulting in removal from the network.

“With strong collaboration and commitment, we aim not only to retain the status but also to position Ijen as a model of a sustainable geopark at the global level,” Parawansa said.

She noted that maintaining Green Card status would deliver strategic benefits, including increased tourism, greater investment opportunities, stronger local economic growth and enhanced environmental and cultural preservation.

The governor also called for continued support from regional administrations, academics, businesses and local communities, saying the geopark has contributed to community empowerment, education, cultural development and research in Banyuwangi and Bondowoso.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally significant geological heritage, managed through integrated approaches to conservation, education and sustainable development, with strong community involvement.

Designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023, Ijen spans Banyuwangi and Bondowoso Districts in East Java.

The site features a network of geosites, biosites and cultural sites, with Mount Ijen as its main attraction.

Related news: Ijen Geopark gets UNESCO Global Geopark status

Translator: Willi Irawan, Raka Adji