The Miratus Mountains consist of oceanic crust called ophiolites that were uplifted 150-200 million years ago.
The collision of the two continents raised the oceanic crust from six thousand meters below sea level and opened it more than a thousand meters above sea level, forming Mount Miratus.
The complex geological history makes the Miratos Mountains rich in geological diversity with waterfalls, hot springs, diverse landscapes, karst and minerals such as diamond and coal.
Geological processes also affect the region's biodiversity.
These mountains cover about 600 square kilometers in South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, but most of them are in South Kalimantan.
The highest point in the Miratus Mountains is Mount Halo, South Kalimantan, at an altitude of 1901 meters above sea level.
“Miratos is Indonesia’s oldest mountain, and is probably the widest and most diverse (in terms of biodiversity). That’s why we need to save Miratus,” said Jatmika Sithiawan, a geologist at the National Development University (UPN) in Yogyakarta.
The geopark concept was chosen as the most appropriate approach to saving Miratus, which is the main point of saving the Earth.
“By saving the earth (in Miratus), we are saving the plants, animals, and people who live in it,” Sethiavan said.
Geopark is a sustainable development program that focuses on three development goals: nature conservation, education, and sustainable human economic development.
There are currently 19 geoparks in Indonesia, of which six have international status (UGGp) and 13 geoparks have national status.
Miratos was declared a national geopark in 2018. It is now in the process of obtaining UNESCO World Geopark (UGGp) status.
The South Kalimantan government has made various arrangements, including preparing documents for submission to UNESCO, improving geographic infrastructure and educating local people about geoparks.
In fact, the local government will face various obstacles to implement this idea.
Some parties are still questioning the ability of the Geopark concept to protect the environment in the Miratos Mountains.
An environmental NGO in South Kalimantan, the God Geopark, has questioned the feasibility of saving Miratus.
“The danger to Meerut comes mainly from the gold and coal industries. Will the geopark be able to overcome this?” asked Kisoro Doi Kahyuna, Executive Director of Walhi South Kalimantan.
The Meerut Mountains emphasized that their raw materials should be closed to manufacturing industries directly from nature.
"If the goal (Geopark) is to preserve nature and community safety, let's work together," he said.
Kisora also questioned the participation of the indigenous people in determining the geopark's status.
"The indigenous people do not participate in determining the status of the geological park. They also have their own territorial position in terms of protection. There is an inviolable reserve."
We respect each other
In response to Wali's doubts, BP Geopark Meratos Vice President, Nurul Fajar Desira, said making the Miratus Mountains National Geological Park will create an opportunity for South Kalimantan to save Miratus.
"We have the same problem," Desiree said.
It appears that the exploitation of Miratos continued for a long time. Ironwood and marantwood were exhausted in the 1970s within a decade of the booming plywood industry.
"Now it's the turn of coal mining, and the mining license has been granted. Then they find the gold. Miratus' wealth is really extraordinary and if we don't do anything (the development) it will continue," he stressed.
He said the Geopark program is an opportunity to open the eyes of everyone, including entrepreneurs, so that the industry can go hand in hand with protecting the environment.
"We have to start this. We appreciate my God's position because this is how environmentalists work. But we have to act according to the law and we cannot arbitrarily revoke (mining) permits," Desira said.
He pointed out that the geological park is a continuous development.
When Meratus is recognized as a national geological park, it attracts the attention of people across the country and can be invited to participate in the protection of the Meratus Mountains.
Desirea admits that although BP Geopark Meratus developed an approach and conducted training for tourism awareness groups (pokdarwis), the local government did not reach out to the indigenous people when it declared Meratus a national geopark.
"We are now fighting for UNESCO [global geopark status] so the relationship with the indigenous people will continue," he said.
selling visions
Meanwhile, Yatmika Sethiavan emphasized that the Geopark concept will protect the geographical diversity, biodiversity and culture of the people living in the Meerut region.
The motto of the geopark, he said, is to protect the earth and people's prosperity.
"By making geoparks a tourist destination, we're selling an experience, not a property," he said.
“We can sell everything without harming the island of Meerut, the natural beauty, and the cultural business,” Jatmica said.
He pointed out that part of the state should be left for education even if minerals are extracted. In addition, the previously developed area will become a geotourism target after production stops.
He mentions the Brixi stone in Yogyakarta, which was formerly a quarry.
In the year in 2014, mining was stopped by order of the local government. The Brescia rocks in the area are known to have been the result of volcanic activity from the ancient Nanglangran volcano.
It later became a protected area and was used as a tourist attraction, earning about 2 to 10 billion rand annually.
“Local governments do not have authority over mining permits, but they have a negotiating aspect, that is, if the permit is granted, the former mine can be modified to become a geo-tourism site,” Setiavan said.
By becoming a UNESCO World Geopark, Miratus will be safer, not only by protecting national certificates, but the whole world will play a role in protecting Miratus.
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