Geodiversity, Conservation and Climate Change: Key Principles for Adaptation

Abstract

Geodiversity is an integral part of the natural environment and provides or underpins many of the ecosystem services on which we depend. Geoconservation is the conservation of geodiversity. Prosser et al. (2010) examine the impact of climate change on geodiversity and geoconservation and note that principles and guidance to facilitate adaptive management of our geodiversity are now required. Here we set out key principles including working with natural processes, assessing site vulnerability, and enhancing the delivery of ecosystem services, landscape management and biodiversity through geoconservation. In addition, we summarise the importance of applying evidence on how dynamic Earth processes respond to climate change, along with applying hindsight from past ecological records to inform adaptive management for the whole natural environment. This will help us understand resilience, scales and rates of change and natural versus human-induced change.