Pemuliharaan Geowarisan di Langkawi Geopark, Malaysia (Geoheritage Conservation in Langkawi Geopark, Malaysia)

Abstract

Rock outcrops of Langkawi Islands are among the best known in Malaysia, exhibiting various types of sedimentary rocks throughout Palaeozoic Era and granitic rocks of Late Triassic age. On 1st June 2007 Langkawi Geopark was declared as the 52nd member of Global Geoparks Network (GGN) assisted by UNESCO. The declaration was based on the presence of several geoheritage sites and geological landscapes of national and regional significance. Among them are the oldest rock unit and oldest fossils, most complete Palaeozoic geological history and rocks, best evidences linking Langkawi islands with Gondwanaland, and most beautiful tropical island karst in Southeast Asian region. Under the National Forestry Act 1984, geoheritage resources in Langkawi Geopark are conserved as protected geosites, geological monuments, geoforest parks, and protected forest reserves. Among important geological monuments are Pulau Ular Abrasion Platform, Pulau Singa Kechil Transitional Formation Boundary, and Pulau Anak Tikus Fossil Bed, while geoforest parks comprise Machinchang Cambrian, Kilim Karst, and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Parks. The Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park portrays landscape of Cambrian sandstone with oldest rock unit and fossils in the region. The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park exhibits outstanding tropical island karst made of richly fossiliferous limestone of Setul Formation, while the Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park showcased another beautiful island karst landscape made mostly of marble of the Chuping Formation. Geoheritage conservation in Langkawi Geopark is under the jurisdiction of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, supported by researchers in handling issues related to carrying capacity of certain geosites and concerted efforts by multiple stakeholders in handling issues pertaining to environmental protection.

Keywords: Geology, geoheritage, conservation, geopark, Langkawi

ABSTRAK

Singkapan batuan kepulauan Langkawi adalah antara yang terbaik diketahui di Malaysia, mempamerkan pelbagai jenis batuan sedimen sepanjang usia Paleozoik dan batuan granit berusia Trias Akhir. Pada 1 Jun 2007 Langkawi Geopark diisytihar sebagai ahli Global Geoparks Network (GGN) ke-52 yang disokong oleh UNESCO. Pengisytiharan ini adalah berasaskan kehadiran beberapa tapak geowarisan dan landskap geologi berkepentingan kebangsaan dan rantau. Antaranya termasuk unit batuan dan fosil paling tua, jujukan peristiwa geologi dan batuan Paleozoik paling lengkap, bukti-bukti paling baik berkaitan kepulauan Langkawi dan Gondwanaland dan landskap kars kepulauan tropika paling indah di rantau Asia Tenggara. Kebanyakan sumber geowarisan di Langkawi Geopark dipulihara di bawah Akta Perhutanan Kebangsaan 1984 sebagai geotapak terpelihara, monumen geologi dan taman georimba atau di dalam hutan simpanan kekal. Antara monumen geologi penting di Langkawi Geopark termasuklah Pentas Abrasi Pulau Ular, Sempadan Transisi Formasi Pulau Singa Kechil dan Lapisan Fosil Pulau Anak Tikus. Taman-taman georimba di Langkawi Geopark terdiri daripada Taman Georimba Kambria Machinchang, Kars Kilim dan Marmar Dayang Bunting. Taman Georimba Kambria Machinchang menampilkan landskap batu pasir Formasi Machinchang yang berusia Kambria dengan unit batuan dan fosil tertua di rantau ini. Taman Georimba Kars Kilim pula menonjolkan landskap berpandangan indah kars kepulauan tropika pada batu kapur Formasi Setul yang kaya dengan fosil, manakala Taman Georimba Marmar Dayang Bunting mempamerkan kars kepulauan Formasi Chuping. Pemuliharaan sumber geowarisan di Langkawi Geopark adalah tanggungjawab Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia yang dibantu oleh para penyelidik bagi menangani isu berkaitan keupayaan tampungan sesuatu geotapak serta usaha bersepadu pelbagai pihak berkepentingan bagi menangani isu tentang penjagaan alam sekitar.

Kata kunci: Geologi, geowarisan, pemuliharaan, geopark, Langkawi