Sabah is well-known for its awe-inspiring landscape and diverse flora and fauna, making the territory one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist attractions.
Now, the East Malaysian territory now has only the third location in the world to be a UNESCO Triple Crown site after the Kinabalu National Geopark was recognised by the UN agency as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
As reported by BERNAMA, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor asserted that UNESCO announced the matter after its executive board made the decision in Paris on Wednesday (24 May).
Previously, Kinabalu Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 and the UNESCO Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve in 2014.
Hajiji said that the latest declaration is a great achievement for the Sabah government under its Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya initiatives through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Sabah Parks.
The Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark covers an area of 4,750 square kilometres and is home to many endemic plants and animals. These include 90 orchid species found only on Mount Kinabalu.
Besides the Kinabalu National Geopark, only Korea’s Jeju Island and China’s Shennongjia have the distinction of having three UNESCO sites globally.
So, what do you guys think of UNESCO’s latest recognition of the Kinabalu National Geopark? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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