Outcome of Sarawak's Asean Heritage Park nominations to be known in September
KUCHING: Sarawak has nominated the Bako and Bukit Lambir national parks as Asean Heritage Parks, with the outcome expected to be announced soon, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said this came after the Niah National Park was successfully inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site last year.
"The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has carried out its assessment and the decision is expected to be known in September," he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (May 28).
According to the ACB website, Asean Heritage Parks are protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the Asean region.
These areas are established to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation and conservation of Asean's rich natural heritage and promote greater collaboration among member nations in preserving their natural heritage.
Located about 37km from Kuching, Bako National Park is home to a wide range of wildlife and vegetation, including the proboscis monkey.
Bukit Lambir National Park near Miri is an ecologically diverse area with numerous plant and insect species as well as the totally protected gibbon, tarsier and clouded leopard.
Awang Tengah also said the state is aiming to gain recognition for the Sarawak Delta Geopark as a Unesco Global Geopark Site by next year.
"We are now in the final stages of preparing for assessment by Unesco, which is scheduled to take place on June 22-25.
"To ensure smooth preparations, two pre-assessment sessions were held in April and May," he said.
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