Langkawi, 25th April 2022 – Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) had organised the International Geopark Webinar today in conjunction with the worldwide Earth Day celebration on 22nd April 2022. This webinar featured speakers from four geopark territories namely Langkawi Malaysia, Khorat Thailand, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. It had also successfully garnered the participation of at least 240 individuals from various Asian, Middle East, and European countries such as China, Egypt, and the United Kingdom.

The Earth Day celebration started in 1970 to remind everyone to focus on the unique environmental challenges in our time. It also encourages the governments and authorities to continuously make smart investments in sustainable technology and forward-thinking public policy, as well as to educate public to protect the earth.

During the opening of the webinar, YBrs. Tuan Nasaruddin bin Abdul Muttalib, Chief Executive Officer of LADA highlighted the importance of caring for the environment. This is especially important including in Langkawi as the island has restricted space and limited resources. Thus, each of its community members must do their parts in environmental stewardship and sustainability promotion. LADA and other related government agencies here have been strongly supporting many initiatives to care for the environment of this island.

“Although government agencies always have huge parts to play in implementing environmental sustainability, it all boils down to everyone’s role in making the biggest difference. Simple changes in everyone’s daily lives can go a long way in contributing towards planetary well-being. These, for instance, can include the acts of walking more and driving less, planting trees, using both sides of papers, taking shorter showers, and using less electricity. Every little effort helps in the long run if everyone chips in,” he further added.

As the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Southeast Asia, Langkawi is home to various geological landscapes, geosites, and landforms of international significance. At the same time, various parties on the island including the community have been protecting and promoting geological heritage attractions here as the key elements for sustainable tourism development.

Every party involved must also be smart in acting and making decisions. The clean and beautiful environment that Langkawi possesses is its most important asset and thus must be preserved. Because of that too, visitors continue to choose this island as their holiday destination.

Hence, it is important for the entire Langkawi community to protect and preserve what the island holds for generations to come. This is because it is not only the right thing to do but also because their livelihood depends on the beauty and cleanliness of this island.

The webinar therefore was organised to encourage everyone to do their parts in caring for our mother nature. In spirit of this celebration, it is thus hoped that all the participants of this webinar would continuously dedicate themselves in preserving the beauty of nature in each of their geoparks.