Abstract
Central America is located in a dynamic region where tectonics and volcanism together with the tropical climate and its diverse vegetation have shaped the landscapes. Our main objective is to review the status of the geodiversity, geoconservation, and geotourism in Central America. We will identify the region’s geomorphic environments and geodiversity using classic regional geomorphology mapping techniques. Likewise, using touristic maps and webpages, we identify the most prominent geosites of different origin in Central America. Moreover, we will explore the national environmental policies, natural conservation systems, and tourism initiatives to promote their national geoheritage through geotourism. We found that volcanic, coastal, karstic, glacial, and fluvial geomorphic environments are the most common in the region. In addition, we identified 393 geosites of volcanic, coastal, karstic, glacial, fluvial, and archeological origin in Central America. The promotion of geoheritage, geodiversity, geoconservation, and thus the development of geoparks are excellent opportunities to promote sustainable development, sustainable lifestyles, appreciation of natural and cultural diversity, and the promotion of peace. These results may prove important to spread information about geoscience widely to decision makers on geotourism and conservation in each country and the stakeholders of the region. Geoheritage studies in tropical and developing countries such as those in Central America should be improved, and priority should be given to the geomorphological dynamics and strong anthropic pressures on their geo- and biodiversity to increase their income through geotourism, especially among the less favored communities and avoid affecting their already threatened natural resources.
Highlights
The concepts of geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation, and geotourism are closely related, and research around them has increased significantly since the 1990s [1]
The Central American volcanic front (CAVF) contains approximately fifty active or potentially active edifices that are highly variable in height, volume, composition, and morphology [41]
Due to their tropical nature, fluvial environments dominate the geographical features of the Central American isthmus (Figure 4) with several water basins, lakes, and wetlands
Summary
The concepts of geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation, and geotourism are closely related, and research around them has increased significantly since the 1990s [1]. Geodiversity stands for the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, landscapes, topography, physical processes), and soil characteristics, assemblages, systems, and processes [2]. Serrano and Ruiz-Flaño [3] further included lithological, tectonic, geomorphological, soil, hydrological, topographical elements, and physical processes on the land, seas, and oceans surfaces. This led to the classification of rocks, landforms, and soils by their uniqueness and representativeness. Land 2022, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW Land 2022, 11, 48. 2 of 16 2 of 16 classification of rocks, landforms, and soils by their uniqueness and representativeness. TThheecocnoncecpept tofofgegoedodiviveresristiytyisisananalaologgoouusstotoththeecocnoncecpept toof fbiboidodiviveresristiytybbuut twwitihthaastsrtornongg tetmempporoarlacl oconntrtarsats.t.TThheenn, ,ggeeooddiviveersristiytyeemmpphhaasiszizeessththeelilninkkssbbeetwtweeeennggeeoossccieiennccees,s,wwilidldlilfiefe, , ananddppeoeoppleleininananenevnivriornomnmenetntororsyssytsetmem[4[]4. ].TThhe eimimpporotratnanceceofofgegoedodivievresristiytyinincrceraesaesses acaccocrodrdininggtotoththeeqquualailtiytyoof fththeererlealatitoionnssbbetewtweeenenththeeddififfefreernent tpprorocecsessessesananddinintetrerrerlealtaitoionns s oof fththeeeaeratrhthsyssytsetmem[5[]5.]
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