Kinabalu National Geopark Earns UNESCO Global Geopark title, Now a Triple Crown Site
The Kinabalu National Geopark was recently declared the UNESCO Global Geopark title, making Malaysia the 3rd country in the world to achieve the coveted Triple Crown!
Previously, Kinabalu Park earned two other UNESCO titles: World Heritage Site on 2 Dec 2000 and UNESCO Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve on 12 June 2014. With the latest award, Sabah has joined Jeju Island in South Korea and Shennongjia in China as places with three UNESCO titles. After Kinabalu Park, Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima became the fourth place to covet the Triple Crown title.
The latest title adds value to Sabah’s current eco-tourism offerings
During the announcement on 26 May 2023, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said "This is a great achievement for the state government under its Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya initiatives through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Sabah Parks," adding that this title significantly enhances the value of the state's existing tourism products.
"The geopark is home to many endemic plants and animals, including 90 orchid species found only on Mount Kinabalu. These include the crimson-headed partridge bird not found anywhere else on earth which will bring direct and indirect benefit to Sabah's socio-economy, particularly to more than 290,000 local communities within the district of Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Ranau," he continued.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified areas with geological heritage that seamlessly integrate conservation, education, and sustainable development strategies for communities and visitors alike. Kinabalu National Geopark's recent UNESCO Global Geopark designation brings the total number to 195, spread across 48 countries worldwide.
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