Ijen Crater retains UNESCO status after Green Card on 3 November

Ijen Crater (Ijen caldera) in Banyuwangi remains part of a UNESCO Global Geopark after the Green Card decision made on 3 November 2026. The recognition concerns the wider geological landscape, whose management covers conservation, education and local community welfare.

Ijen Crater keeps UNESCO status after 3 November decision

The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council awarded Ijen Geopark a Green Card during its eleventh session at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 3 November 2026. The decision followed a revalidation assessment carried out by UNESCO advisers in August 2026.

All 12 council members agreed to retain the designation, according to RRI's report on the Green Card. The assessment examined the landscape's geological value, environmental conservation programmes, public education and the contribution of the geopark to local economic empowerment across Banyuwangi and Bondowoso.

Green Card assessment covers Ijen's crater landscape

Ijen first received UNESCO Global Geopark status in 2023. The latest decision records that the area met recommendations made when it was first designated, while continuing to carry international recognition for its natural and cultural heritage.

The geopark's official information describes 21 geological sites across two regencies, with the crater among its principal geological features. UNESCO identifies Ijen volcano and its crater lake as the most prominent attraction in the geopark, alongside volcanic cones, lava flows and the blue-fire phenomenon. Its UNESCO profile for Ijen records the geopark's designation date as 2023.

The result gives the crater a current conservation news peg without changing the site into a separate UNESCO listing. It links the familiar visitor destination to a broader management area in which geological protection, education and community participation are assessed together.

What the UNESCO decision means for the Ijen area

The Green Card is a revalidation of the geopark's status rather than a new construction or a separate attraction at the crater. Local officials described the result as both international recognition and a continuing responsibility to protect geological heritage, biodiversity and cultural resources.

For travellers, the practical relevance is the status of the landscape around the crater. The decision places conservation and education alongside tourism management, while the assessment also considers benefits for communities living in the Ijen area. The reporting by Kompas on the revalidation says the council reached its decision without debate.

Visiting Ijen Crater: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The relevant news date is 3 November 2026, when the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council retained Ijen Geopark's status in Paris.
• The decision concerns the geopark's recognition and management; it does not publish a new entrance arrangement for the crater.
• The site lies in East Java, across Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regencies, within a geopark containing 21 geological sites.
• The terrain is volcanic, and the crater lake and blue-fire phenomenon are geological features identified by UNESCO.

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Frequently asked questions about Ijen Crater

When did Ijen Crater retain UNESCO status?

The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council awarded the Green Card to Ijen Geopark on 3 November 2026.

What does the Green Card mean for Ijen Crater?

It confirms the wider Ijen Geopark retained its UNESCO Global Geopark designation after assessment of conservation, education and community-related management.

Where is Ijen Crater and how do you get there?

Ijen Crater is in East Java, within an area spanning Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regencies. The UNESCO decision identifies the wider location but does not set out a transport route.