MIRI, Sept 5: Niah National Park dubbed as Borneo’s Cradle of Life nomination towards UNESCO World Heritage Site status will be the first site to possess a mixed criteria on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in terms of its natural and cultural significance.
These includes the ecosystem, rainforest archeological discoveries spanning million of years. Offering a huge diversity of attractions.
Thereby, the Sarawak Government is adamant to preserve artefacts, historical sites and monuments.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton said these features will amaze and captivate people throughout the world.
Zolkipli noted speakers at the Niah National Park International Conference For World Heritage Site Nomination held here today, serves as a supporting document for the nomination through the 15 papers presented and share recent discoveries and research to strengthen the OUV.
“We have a line-up of the best internationally renowned speakers to share with each and everyone of you their thoughts, ideas and knowledge during this conference.
“The nomination dossier is scheduled for submission to the World Heritage Committee by February 2023, hence, this is a very strong indicator for us to step-up our game and unite to do our utmost best to ensure Niah National Park would be Sarawak’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site, as per its counterpart, the Gunung Mulu National Park which was listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000,” he said this in his welcoming speech at the conference which was officiated by Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He pointed out apart from biodiversity conservation, one of SFC’s core thrust is to develop, enhancing as well as promoting nature-based and community-based ecotourism products, in its quest to position Sarawak as the number one preferred tourist destination.
Thus, it is befitting for SFC to collaborate with our strategic partner, the Sarawak Museum Department, as the custodian of archaeological sites, monuments and cultural landmarks to ensure Niah National Park to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. – TVS
