Langkawi Retains UNESCO Global Geopark Status

LANGKAWI (Kedah, Malaysia), Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Langkawi's status as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) global geopark was extended by another four years when it was given a green card rating recently. This feat was announced during the Fourth Asia-Pacific Geopark Network Symposium which was held in San'in Kaigan, Japan, said Langkawi Development Authority in an e-mail Tuesday. The island was first accorded the global geopark status in 2007 for a period of four years before it underwent a successful assessment in 2011 which enabled it to continue with the status until this year. The latest status for the 2016-2019 period was accorded after an assessment conducted by two UNESCO geopark experts, Pablo Rivas Palomo, of Spain and Pasquale Li Puma, of Italy last August. Langkawi is an archipelago of islands located off the northwestern coast of mainland Kedah on the Malaysian peninsular. -- BERNAMA