Promoting sustainability in a low density territory through geoheritage: Casa da Pedra case-study (Araripe Geopark, NE Brazil)

Abstract

After being exploited from the Earth’s crust, raw materials and geodiversity elements of economic value are traditionally used for the benefit of society. However, geodiversity elements may provide other types of benefits to society, namely scientific, cultural, educational, and tourist services, as they currently happen in geoparks. Geoparks can be seen as a culturally differentiated way of transferring scientific insights into social practice and vice versa, as well as an effective path of achieving global sustainability. This work aims at contributing and analyzing the role played by geoparks to improve the living conditions of local populations. The research is qualitative in nature, a study case type, which describes and assesses a pioneering experience developed at the Casa da Pedra (“Stone House”) Reference Center. Built in 2014, Casa da Pedra is located in Inhumas, the municipality of Santana do Cariri which integrates the UNESCO Araripe Global Geopark (State of Ceará; NE Brazil). The activities performed at this center aim to bridge academic knowledge and responsibility to a low density region subject to arid climate conditions. By fulfilling the social needs of a low-income community, the project results provide positive social impacts in the Inhumas community, and can inspire similar initiatives in other geoparks and/or other low density territories displaying relevant geological heritage. Moreover, by integrating natural, social and humanistic scientific awareness with non-scientific and non-Western forms of knowledge, these also serve as a catalyst tool to achieve global sustainability.