Local Community's Involvement in Appreciating Heritage Value of Kinta Valley Geosites

Abstract

Geoheritage is known for its unusual natural beauty, plentiful natural resources, and several notable geological features. Hence, the elements of geoheritage have been primarily viewed as a preservation of natural resource variety. A geoheritage site includes values of ecosystem, biodiversity, and geodiversity. The values are essential for its recognition. If the local community did not understand nor appreciate the values of the site, it will impact its overall value. The value might be faded within time because of the local community's ignorance. Thus, this study examined the local community's appreciation of the heritage values of heritage geosites in Kinta Valley Geopark. The methodology employed was a quantitative survey based on questionnaires using the Likert scale. The results showed that the local community understands and indirectly appreciates the heritage values of the heritage geosites. These results provide vital information for the planning and marketing of geotourism.