Preserving Geopark Kaldera Toba

The Geopark Kaldera Toba (GKT) became the focal point of the Forum Diskusi Aktual Berbangsa dan Bernegara (FDABB) a National Dialogue Forum organized by the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI) in collaboration with the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FISIP USU) on Friday, September 19, 2025. Carrying the theme “Affirming the Values of Local Wisdom in Preserving the Geopark Kaldera Toba,” the forum emphasized the significance of Batak cultural values as a foundation for sustainable geopark management.

Held at the FISIP USU Executive Meeting Room, the event brought together key figures from local government, academia, and civil society organizations. Among the attendees were Samosir Regent Vandiko Timotius Gultom, Head of the North Sumatra Office of Culture and Tourism Yuda P. Setiawan, representatives from the North Sumatra Environmental Agency, the Kaldera Toba UNESCO Global Geopark Management Agency, as well as scholars from various disciplines within USU.

The forum was attended in person by Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Dr. Lestari Moerdijat, S.S., M.M., who highlighted the importance of synergy among communities, government, and academia in maintaining the sustainability of the Lake Toba region.

“Although the Geopark Kaldera Toba has now received a Green Card from UNESCO, we must continue strengthening collaboration so that the geopark remains connected to the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Lestari Moerdijat.

This discussion followed UNESCO’s previous issuance of a “yellow card” to the Geopark Kaldera Toba in 2023 due to weak community engagement, environmental preservation, and cultural reinforcement. Although the status improved to a “green card” in 2025, stakeholders acknowledged that consistency and cross-sectoral collaboration remain the key to sustainable management.

Local wisdom within the Batak community such as the Dalihan Na Tolu philosophy that emphasizes social balance and reverence for ancestral lands was recognized as vital social capital. These values are not merely cultural heritage but also serve as instruments for environmental conservation.

“The Geopark Kaldera Toba should be approached through the social field perspective as a space of contestation and positioning. It must be understood as a shared space for all ethnic groups surrounding the lake, rather than being perceived solely as belonging to the Batak Toba,” stated Dr. Fikarwin, M.A., Anthropology lecturer at FISIP USU.

This perspective reinforces that the management of the Geopark Kaldera Toba should not only focus on environmental and tourism aspects, but also ensure the inclusion of all ethnic groups around the lake as part of an equitable social space. In line with this, several academics stressed the need to ensure that indigenous communities are not merely symbolically involved, but genuinely integrated into policies and management practices.

“The ITMP Kaldera program aims to integrate both environmental and social aspects of the communities surrounding Lake Toba. There needs to be a proper screening of indigenous communities. Around Samosir, cultural heritage remains alive, but it is not yet fully incorporated into village governance and other local systems,” explained Dr. Muba Manihuruk, M.Si., Sociology lecturer at FISIP USU and researcher for the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN).

Beyond addressing the challenges of modernization and mass tourism which risk eroding cultural values the forum also formulated several key recommendations. These include strengthening local wisdom within geopark management policies, promoting culture-based community empowerment, and following up through collaborative research, academic publications, and community engagement programs.

By involving diverse stakeholders, the FDABB is expected to help maintain the Geopark Kaldera Toba’s status as part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, while also ensuring that it becomes a source of sustainable prosperity for the surrounding communities.