Implementing Langkawi Geopark through land use planning

Development plans under the malaysian town and country planning act 1976 serve as the principal planning instruments in guiding and regulating protection,conservation,use and development of land towards quality living environment. they also act as guides to investment and use of resources and provide frameworks for short and long term investments by public and private agencies,and for the co-ordination of their decisions. planning and development control at the lowest level then regulates development so that it complies with land use plans. through land use planning,sustainable development,protection and conservation of natural and cultural heritage resources can be regulated. for langkawi geopark,tourism is the most important sector in its economic development. to further enhance and capitalise from this sector,eco-tourism with iconic geo-bio-cultural sites can be promoted through implementing the geopark concept. this article describes how the geopark concept in langkawi is implemented through land use planning. © 2011 by mip.