Five Indonesian geoparks gain green card recommendations
Merangin received backing by seven votes to four, while the other four sites won unanimous support. UNESCO member states will receive the recommendations.
Revalidation discussions at the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on November 2-4, 2026, resulted in green card recommendations for five Indonesian sites. The recommendations remain subject to the UNESCO Global Geopark status determination process.
Belitong, Ijen, Maros Pangkep and Raja Ampat won unanimous backing. For Merangin in Jambi, seven council members voted in favour and four opposed. None of the five sites received a yellow card recommendation.
The next step is submission of the recommendations to UNESCO member states.
Fadli Zon, Indonesia's culture minister and chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, said the outcome showed international appreciation for the country's geological and cultural conservation work. He said surrounding communities should participate in preservation because geoparks are linked to their history, traditions, knowledge and identity.
Zon urged better management through education, research and community empowerment so residents benefit directly from development. The Ministry of Culture will work more closely with other ministries, institutions, local governments and stakeholders on conservation, education, research and sustainable tourism.
