A milestone for youth-led sustainability was marked in Belitong Geopark as the Belitong Declaration on Sustainable Island Geoparks was officially announced during the first Global Geoparks Youth Marine Camp on Kepayang Island, part of the Tanjung Kelayang Geosite. The declaration was signed by Immanuel Deo Silalahi, Chairperson of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Youth Forum, and witnessed by Guy Martini, Secretary of the Global Geoparks Network, alongside representatives from the ASEAN Blue Economy Forum.
The declaration highlights the urgent role of youth in shaping the future of island and marine conservation. It underscores the ocean’s critical importance as a regulator of climate, a carbon sink, and a source of biological innovation in combating climate change. However, the statement also addresses the pressing dilemma faced by coastal communities: balancing environmental preservation, climate action, and the sustainable economic well-being of local populations.
The Belitong Declaration presents three core commitments: Stimulating island geopark development through blue economy concepts, encouraging sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, harnessing the role of youth in fisheries, marine conservation, and research, positioning them as active contributors to ecological knowledge and innovation, and involving youth in geopark development as a pathway for regeneration, ensuring continuity of leadership and long-term sustainability.
By framing these commitments, the declaration calls for collective action that bridges generations. It stresses that safeguarding marine ecosystems cannot be the responsibility of a single group but must involve cooperation across local communities, stakeholders, and youth networks.
Speaking at the event, participants emphasized that youth voices are not only symbolic but essential in creating actionable solutions for coastal resilience. The declaration aspires to transform ideas and aspirations into concrete strategies that align conservation efforts with community empowerment.
With the signing of the Belitong Declaration, the Belitong UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Community positions itself as a pioneering voice in connecting culture, environment, and sustainable economies, setting an example for other island geoparks worldwide.