Kinta Valley Geopark's status to be reviewed this year

IPOH: The Kinta Valley Geopark will be reviewed this year to see if its status will be retained.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the evaluation exercise is conducted every four years to ensure that the standards of the geopark can be kept consistent.

"We do hope that its status can be maintained.

"With this status, it can attract tourists from abroad and locally, and spur the local downstream economy," he said after an official visit to the Gunung Lang Recreational Park here on Monday (Feb 22).

"We have several geoparks, and each has its own characteristics.

"Kinta Valley, with its limestone landscape, has high value and is rich in geology, ecology, history and cultural value," he added.

Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah had in 2018 declared Kinta Valley a national geopark.

The valley consists of a 1,952sq km area covering both Kinta and Kampar districts, and has 18 sites within the geopark.

Shamsul Anuar also said the ministry was now in the process of completing its dossier on the recognition of the Lenggong Valley as another geopark.

"I think we can declare it as the second geopark for Perak in July.

"The Perak Menteri Besar has agreed to perform a groundbreaking ceremony for a geopark gallery in March," he said.