A call for mainstreaming geodiversity in nature conservation research and praxis

Abstract

Geodiversity is a concept that seeks to address the relatively under-valued importance of abiotic diversity in conservation and sustainability science. In this short communication we argue that the antiquity of geodiversity makes it uniquely valuable and it is imperative that global geodiversity is factored in alongside biodiversity for conservation research and praxis. The conceptualization of geodiversity as a parallel framework to biodiversity can help to recognize abiotic features and processes as worthy conservation targets in the era of pervasive anthropogenic change of the planet’s surface and help to orient conservation approaches towards all aspects of nature.