GEODIVERSITY AND GEOHERITAGE ASSESSMENT IN HULU LANGAT DISTRICT, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Assessment of valuable geological resources is critical in ensuring sustainable utilization of resources at geological sites for education, tourism, recreational and conservation purposes. This research aims to develop a comprehensive method of assessing heritage resources of geological sites based on four values, scientific, aesthetic, recreational and culture in Hulu Langat. The assessment method employed in this research utilised conservation geology approach in order to to establish criteria for the four values that incorperating knowledge of other discipline, namely ecology, history and economic. Specific weightage are given for each criterion in the four values, with an empahis on scientific significance. Based on the total score, each geological sites are classified into geofeature, geosite or geotop. Additional data consisting of basic info and environmental functions, support the classification of assessed geological sites. In Hulu Langat, it was found that most of the geological sites are geofeatures. However additional data obtained shows that they also already function as a recreational area or water catchment and located within forest reserve. Therefore, the geofeatures are proposed as sites for geotourism and as conservation area. The study also recognised the assessment method developed using gelogical landscape approach in this study be able to captured the intangible and tangible significant of the geological sites.

Keywords

• assessment
• geological site
• geotourism
• geodiversity
• geoheritage