APRIL 25 — Why do people visit Langkawi? A lot of people go there to buy or sell duty free goods. Some go there to buy or sell airplanes during the annual international air show. Tourists go to the islands for the beautiful tropical beaches and sun. Others go there to work in the tourist industry, the main economic backbone of the island.

However, there is a growing number who go there not just for its unique geographic settings of the hills, sea, beaches and sun but to know more about its 550 million years old geological history and its landscape.

In 2007, Langkawi, part of the state of Kedah, was given a new concept, geopark, by Unesco. Not long ago it was popularly called eco-tourism and before that, it was fragmented into nature, marine, forest and cultural reserves.

This geopark or eco-tourism concept was created first in Europe in 2000 and now there are 64 geoparks in 19 countries around the world.  Langkawi’s unique group of 99 islands is Malaysia’s and South-east Asia’s first geopark. China alone has more than 20 geoparks due mainly to its rich geological heritage sites. North and South America, Africa has just a few and the rest of the geoparks are Europeans.

Two weeks ago, more than 500 academics, scientists and tour operators from all over the world, including Malaysia, descended on the island for the 4th International Unesco conference on geopark.

This scientific and exhibition event, April 9 -15, was jointly organised by LESTARI, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Langkawi Geopark, Global Geopark Network, Unesco and in collaboration with LADA and others.

Geopark’s strategy is to connect geology, forest and nature conservation with sustainable tourist development and management.

It also emphasises the importance of including local participation through educational programmes and employment opportunities.

It has clear guidelines that each geopark has to follow and if it fails to comply and maintain the international standards, on periodical inspections, it would lose its geopark’s status.

Ibrahim Komoo, from LESTARI (UKM), is one of the key figures in the team that first established the Langkawi geopark idea and he said, "When the concept of a geopark was first proposed, it was envisaged as a protected area enclosing features of special geological significance, rarity or beauty.

Geopark is a suitable area for scientific research, environmental education, and have a great potential for local economic development."

He went on to say that as the concept evolved, geopark is defined as a nationally protected area containing a number of geological heritage sites of particular importance, rarity or aesthetic appeal which can be developed as part of an integrated concept of protection, education and sustainable

development.

What are the problems and issues in putting theory into practise? This question was addressed by Hood Salleh, also from LESTARI, and another pioneer in the group.

He said, "Since its formal inception, the Langkawi geopark is said to have its own transformational role and value. It also carries with it a theory of management. Will these accepted ‘facts’ play their part in Langkawi?"

Taking a social perspective, he said that to keep the amazing beauty of the Langkawi geopark, it needs to first give the locals a sense of ownership of the place. They must love their own island.

Then it will need to get the necessary sustained political will and governance from the state and the Federal government to carry out all the plans. Next there is the huge task of bringing together the diverse community of competing interests in the island to also love the place.

Then finally for the local inhabitants themselves to possess the specific intimate knowledge of the earth history of their islands and its culture.

When all these complex parts come together, over the years, then Langkawi will be loved as a thing of beauty and seen as a joy forever by everyone.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.