Geoparks Investment Advisory Council Joins Earth Day 2025 Commemoration at Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark

Geoparks Investment Advisory Council Joins Earth Day 2025 Commemoration at Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark

Renewable Energy, Cultural Resilience, and the Future of Sustainable Geopark Development

On April 22, 2025, the Geoparks Investment Advisory Council (GIAC) was honored to be invited to participate in the Earth Day Virtual Commemoration hosted by the Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark, one of Indonesia’s most geologically significant and culturally rich sites. Celebrated globally under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” this year’s Earth Day focused on the urgent call to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in a manner that honors both nature and community. In Merangin, that message is not only heard—it is lived.

From the foothills of Sumatra’s interior, where ancient Permian fossil forests lie preserved in stone and volcanic landscapes trace the faultlines of the island’s dramatic geological history, Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark stands as a testament to what Earth can teach us—if we are willing to listen. It is a land where heritage and hope intertwine: where the guardians of the forest are indigenous tribes who have protected the landscape for generations, and where renewable energy efforts are not abstract policy, but living systems maintained through community practice.

The commemoration brought together leaders and practitioners from the Indonesian Geopark Network and beyond, featuring speakers from renowned geoparks such as Khorat in Thailand, Aso in Japan, and Lesvos in Greece. GIAC’s participation reflected our ongoing commitment to positioning geoparks as critical nodes in Indonesia’s renewable energy future. Our presence at Merangin highlighted our shared vision with UNESCO and local stakeholders: that geoparks are not merely conservation areas or tourism destinations, but living laboratories of sustainable development, where culture, nature, and innovation meet.

What we witnessed and contributed to at Merangin was a powerful reaffirmation of this vision. The local communities, particularly the Orang Batin Lamo and Serampas tribes, have long pioneered sustainable living through micro-hydro energy systems that rely on careful water resource stewardship and ancestral knowledge. In places like Rantau Kermas Village, hydroelectric independence is more than a technical feat—it is a cultural expression of respect for the earth. Their ability to generate clean energy while preserving biodiversity, managing soil fertility, and maintaining harmonious relations with the land is an inspiration for geoparks across the country.

As Indonesia holds nearly 40 percent of the world’s geothermal resources—with an estimated potential of 29 GW, of which less than 10 percent has been utilized—the promise of renewable energy is not merely hypothetical. It is an untapped opportunity that, if managed responsibly, could transform rural energy access, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and fortify economic resilience. Yet the path forward must be cautious, inclusive, and ecologically sound. At GIAC, we continue to emphasize that any geothermal development—especially in ecologically sensitive areas like Merangin’s Masurai Volcanic Complex—must align with robust conservation goals and include indigenous voices at every step of planning and implementation.

Merangin’s leadership on this front has already received international recognition. In 2023, the Geopark won the Best Practice Award at the Global Geoparks Network Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, for its community-led renewable energy projects. This accolade is not just a marker of past success—it is a call to expand this model across other geoparks in Indonesia and the Global South. Through new partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding with Ijen, Rinjani Lombok, and Maros Pangkep Geoparks, Merangin has laid the groundwork for knowledge-sharing platforms that combine renewable energy innovation, geotourism, and environmental education.

Throughout the Earth Day 2025 commemoration, this spirit of collaboration was on full display. Events ranged from strategic discussions with international energy experts to on-the-ground ecoliteracy initiatives such as student visits to the Talang Paruh micro-hydro plant, where youth were introduced to the science of water-powered electricity within the context of traditional ecological knowledge. Meanwhile, the Silek Penyudon Cultural Festival celebrated the cultural continuity of Merangin’s people, featuring traditional martial arts, batik exhibitions, and community geoproduct showcases. These experiences served as powerful reminders that sustainability must always be rooted in local identity, and that energy transition is not only about technology—it is about community empowerment.

GIAC’s engagement with Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark on Earth Day 2025 has deepened our conviction that geoparks have a unique and vital role in Indonesia’s future. They offer a platform where infrastructure and tradition can coexist, where scientific research supports local livelihoods, and where investment in clean energy becomes an investment in cultural resilience. In Merangin, the narrative of development is not driven by extraction but by regeneration.

As we move forward, the Geoparks Investment Advisory Council will continue to support Merangin and other members of the Indonesian Geopark Network in advancing responsible energy policies, attracting green investments, and scaling up indigenous-led solutions that prioritize people and the planet. We believe that the success of Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark provides a replicable model—one that invites policymakers, investors, and citizens to reimagine what progress looks like in the 21st century.

The journey from Merangin’s initial submission to UNESCO in 2014 to its inauguration in 2023, and now to its leadership in renewable energy discussions on Earth Day 2025, is a story of perseverance, clarity of vision, and mutual respect. As we reflect on this year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” let us take it not as a slogan, but as a mandate—a call to action that echoes from the volcanic calderas of Sumatra to the policy halls of Jakarta and beyond.

We invite all stakeholders—government ministries, academic institutions, community organizations, and global partners—to join us in building a future where Indonesia’s geoparks shine not only as centers of geological wonder, but as beacons of sustainable power and shared prosperity.

A photo of the Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark