Mapping of Karangsambung - Karangbolong Geopark, as an Effort to Manage Geoheritage in Kebumen Regency

Abstract

Kebumen is the most underdeveloped district in Central Java Province. The area covers the mountains in the north to the coast in the south. Kebumen has a unique geological diversity, exciting and international scientific value so that it is widely used as a natural laboratory for conservation, education, and research purposes Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No. 2817 K/40/MEM/2006 has designated 21,150 hectares in Karangsambung as the first geological heritage in Indonesia. At the height of Karangbolong in the southern part, there are limestones. An area of 4,089 hectares has been designated through the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number: 3873 K/40/MEM/2014 as a Kars Landscape Area, which has a protected function. Geopark is a concept of sustainable development in a single area with a geoheritage for conservation, education, and sustainable economic development of local communities. A place of 543,599 km2 covering 12 sub-districts and 118 villages stretching from the Karangsambung geoheritage to the Karangbolong geoheritage has been designated as the Karangsambung Karangbolong National Geopark since 2018. This geopark is planned to be upgraded to a UNESCO global geopark. This study aims to see whether the management of the two geoheritages with the geopark concept is the right choice. The research was conducted through literature studies, field research, comparative studies on geoparks in other places, and qualitative data analysis.