Geodiversity Elements Research Articles

Geological heritage of the Taguelft syncline (M'Goun Geopark): Inventory, assessment, and promotion for geotourism development (Central High Atlas, Morocco)

The Taguelft syncline, located south of the Béni Mellal city, is one of the synclinal basins of the central High Atlas. It contains significant geological heritage that should be inventoried, valorized, and protected. The present study aimed to inventory and evaluate the syncline's geological heritage and then propose geotourism and geodidactic promotion allowing their sustainable geoconservation. This is done by applying the University of Lausanne methodology, based on the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the scientific (considered central) and additional values. Results highlight geodiversity elements with high scientific (≃0.84) and aesthetic (≃0.85) values related to the strong representativeness of the regional geological phenomena (genesis modes of magmatic bodied, tabular structure of Jbel Sgat, gabbroic intrusion of the Ait Boulmane wrinkle). The assessment also shows that the study area hosts a valuable palaeontological heritage enclosing fossil wood, ammonites, and dinosaur remains (bones and footprints). Moreover, it has underlined an important cultural and architectural interest of the tribe of Ait Sokhmane. Taken together, the diverse geological and cultural heritage identified can constitute a valuable tool for geoconservation and geotourism purposes. Due to their high touristic and educational potential, the geosites of the syncline are a preferred tourist destination for many visitors and can serve as valuable educational excursion sites for the dissemination of geosciences through different tools such as interpretation panels, digital media, leaflets, and guided tours. This exceptional geodiversity, and the rich cultural heritage, constitute a support for the development of geotourism and a tool for reinforcing local socio-cultural development. The knowledge and understanding of the different facets of the geological and cultural heritage as well as the management and planning of these resources all contribute to sustainable and developed tourism.

Geodiversity mapping of the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark, Hungary

Abstract. Geodiversity is the natural range of elements in the physical environment. The relationships, properties, and systems of geoscientific features have an impact not only on the natural world but also on cultural and societal aspects of life. Geodiversity can be considered as a quantitative variable that is unevenly distributed all over the world. This spatial variability helps to locate areas with a high degree of geodiversity. These areas can be the basis of further nature protection and geotourism purposes: high geodiversity usually means higher scientific/cultural/ecological values in an area. We present a GIS-based workflow in which we collect, evaluate, and visualize geoscientific variables to provide information on the geodiversity of the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark in Hungary. By using mainly freely accessible data and an open-source GIS environment, we aim to develop a method that can be applied in many areas of the world. The evaluation is built up by the determination of five sub-indices per unit area, which are related to the elements of geodiversity: geology, relief, hydrology, soil, palaeontology, and mineralogy. The geodiversity index is the sum of the sub-indices. The current tourism potential is mainly found in the high geodiversity regions: the Balaton Uplands, the Tapolca Basin, the Káli Basin, and the Bakony Mountains. The results show that the current geopark infrastructure is in accordance with the geodiversity, but it took several years to reach this state. However, new geoparks are established every year and their infrastructure is yet to be planned. The method we apply helps in this process by using open-source data in the assessment and provides a workflow in areas that have not been evaluated before.

Geodiversity, marketing and photographic images:

Photography is an important instrument in tourism marketing, which aims to encourage consumption and consolidate the image of a tourist destination in consumers’ minds. The elements of geodiversity with aesthetic and cultural values are commonly used as differentiated products in tourism destinations. This article discusses the relation between geodiversity, tourism marketing and the use of photographs in consolidating the image of a destination, focusing on those based in geotourism practices. The case study analyzes photographs from tourism promotion materials of the Basque Coast UNESCO Global Geopark (Spain), seeking to understand the techniques, fieldwork, symbols and narratives present therein. The methodology involves a theoretical discussion, field work and a qualitative description of the photographs with physical attributes. Geological and geomorphological features of Basque Coast are shown in photographs, highlighting a singular geoheritage that sustains environmental and cultural conservation, a principle that every geopark should construct and transmit.

The Geodiversity of Brazil: Quantification, Distribution, and Implications for Conservation Areas

Research related to geodiversity aim at valuing abiotic aspects as inseparable components of natural heritage and, thus, as well as biodiversity, must be understood and valued through the ordering of their use and geoconservation. Geodiversity studies are developed based on several approaches, from the broadest ones, which contemplate the measurement of abiotic elements fully, to those that assess geoheritage through geodiversity values. The present research follows the broader approach of evaluating and analysing the entire geodiversity, applying the measurement of abiotic elements without their valuation, and spatialising areas with a greater and lesser density of the selected elements related in this research lithology, relief, and soil. For this purpose, bases produced by systematic surveys of Brazilian research institutions were used. As a result, the mapping of the subindexes obtained pointing from the division into 5 classes, the areas which present greater and lesser diversity of each element, as well as the synthesis map for the indexes of geodiversity elements in Brazil, considering the three elements selected for this mapping. The analysis of the indexes’ spatialisation was carried out from a descriptive and genetic perspective, aiming to explain the causes of the distribution of the abiotic elements in the Brazilian territory, providing subindexes for studies in the scope of environmental services, nature, and territory conservation planning. A spatial analysis was also carried out between the Geodiversity Index Map and the Brazilian conservation units and the areas where geopark projects are being developed.

Three hundred years of geodiversity in the Historic Center of the Gold City, Cuiabá, Brazil

Gold was abundant in the city of Cuiaba and was the starting point for is emergence and development. Bandeirantes (explorers/fortune hunters during the colonial period), mostly coming from Sao Paulo, made their expeditions into inland Brazil firstly to capture and enslave natives and, in this process, discovered important alluvial deposits associated with the rivers in the region. Today, this precious metal is still present and being prospected in the Baixada Cuiabana region, and is found preserved (impregnated and visible) in the plaster of the walls of the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario e Sao Benedito, for example. Many buildings in the central areas were built and adorned with ex situ geological material such as ironstone and blocks of milky quartz, and some of these buildings are identified in this work as an example of the use of geodiversity as a constructive and historical element. Ironstone is described as a solid, reddish sedimentary rock resulting from a chemical alteration process (lateritization), and the quartz blocks come from gold veins that cut the rocks of the Cuiaba Group, in the Baixada Cuiabana region. In addition to these materials that are present in some locations and represent geodiversity elements, an in situ example of geodiversity is described. It is an exposed geological fault that stands out in the landscape, located in an aligned hill where historic constructions were built. Because it is of unique geoscientific interest and preserved within the central urban boundary of the city of Cuiaba, this place can be considered the first geosite, which is described in the present work.

Tasmanian reserve geoconservation inventory assessment using Geographic Information Technology (GIT)

Geoconservation is, at its foundation, a grass-roots movement with geoheritage represented by geosites containing the most scientifically significant and valuable geodiversity elements. Problems arise in the assessment and communication of inventory due in part to inconsistent and traditionally time-consuming, ‘snapshot’ assessments that are difficult to spatially monitor.The case study of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the encompassing IUCN Category II Wellington Park Reserve (18,250 ha) (42°53′24″ S 147°13′48″ E, Tasmania, Australia) was chosen to explore the complexities of geosite and geodiversity site assessment, detection and communication. Using digital tools, we revised a 25-year-old snapshot inventory, configuring the ESRI ‘Collector for ArcGIS’ app for in-field data collection. Putative geosite and geodiversity site attributes were assessed for scientific value, potential touristic use, and potential educational use, using the Brilha (2016) method. Additional digital tools supported spatially accurate, engaging and interactive online inventory.Our findings suggested that many of the putative geosites in the park had low or moderate scientific values, but higher additional educational or touristic use values, especially in the urban-facing park zones. Though site degradation risk was low-moderate, sites in closer proximity to City of Hobart might experience additional impacts from visitation.The Wellington Park is a significant protected area that aims to tell an important story about the evolution of the periglaciated terrain and the endemic fauna and flora that depend upon it. In this sense, the possibility that not all putative geosites have high scientific value (and instead, might be better classed as geodiversity sites) is of limited concern, because the myriad geodiversity elements and additional value rankings (including 50% being highly ‘representative’ elements) provide an opportunity for all who visit the park to observe a coherent story about Tasmania in an easily accessible location. The opportunities realised in the creation of the digital inventory and assessment process remedy many issues that currently hamper practical Geoconservation, improving cost, consistency and standardisation of the inventory assessment and the quality of geotouristic and educational products. This digital approach could assist protected area managers and geoconservationists to monitor, protect and communicate inventory over the long-term.

Guidelines for Management of Geoheritage: an Approach in the Sertão Central, Brazilian Northeastern Semiarid

The characterisation of geoheritage and the understanding of the physical and socio-cultural features of a territory are essential to achieve the major geoconservation goals: protection and sustainable use of exceptional elements of geodiversity. This research was done in the Sertao Central, an economic vulnerable area in the hinterland of northeast Brazil, remarked by the Caatinga Biome and a rocky, semiarid landscape. The area comprises an assemblage of deformed igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as gneisses, TTG rocks, schists, and granites. Starting from a regional geoheritage inventory done in 2015, fourteen geosites were selected and assessed, representing a wide regional tectonic evolution from the Precambrian West Gondwanan orogenesis to the Cenozoic development of particular examples of Brazilian granitic inselbergs. In addition to the inventory of geosites, six geodiversity sites were also evaluated, along with five geocultural sites, highlighting the cultural value of geodiversity in the area. Based on the available information, an analysis with the main features and spatial configuration of the geoheritage was developed, allowing to designate the most appropriate use for each geological site. Considering geoconservation as a geoscientific fostering for the sustainable development, our study suggests a set of general guidelines for the management of geoheritage, in order to facilitate the decision-making process by local managers and stakeholders as well as to promote the discussion on geotourism strategies for the region. Organised according to well-defined geoconservation strategies, these guidelines could enhance the sustainable development of vulnerable regions, such as Sertao Central itself.

Beyond Geodiversity Sites: Exploring the Educational Potential of Widespread Geological Features (Rocks, Minerals and Fossils)

Geosite and geodiversity site inventories are among the most important means of geological diversity conservation and promotion. However, there are other in situ geological features that have significant educational potential and are not included in many inventories, namely, localities of widespread rock types, common minerals and fossil-bearing strata. In this paper, a broad utilisation of these petrographic, mineralogical and palaeontological geodiversity elements for geoscience communication purposes is postulated, with a case study that focuses on the geological heritage of Poland. A simple quantitative framework for the evaluation of the educational potential of rock types is used for the assessment of preselected geological units on the geological map of Poland. The preferences of potential geotourists are estimated using the interactive web-based map. The promotional materials are written for the most distinctive rock types and geological units that scored the highest in the assessment procedure and/or were most frequently selected by users. This procedure stimulates geodiversity promotion in areas where few geosites and geodiversity sites are documented and no educational activities or interpretative facilities are available, potentially increasing the number of geotourism destinations. The rocks and minerals utilised here are exposed over large areas and can be sampled and studied by untrained collectors without any loss of geodiversity. Shifting the involvement of individuals interested in geosciences from extraordinary to more common rocky outcrops helps to protect the geological heritage and enhances conservation of the most spectacular features for future generations. Field activities such as individual searching and studying outcrops, in turn, play an important role in learning in geosciences, facilitating the acquisition of knowledge and encouraging interdisciplinary thinking. Future improvements could include expanding the applicability of the evaluation method, employment of a location-based learning approach #and more detailed studies of the preferences of potential geotourists.

Geoethics and geoconservation: integrated approaches

The last thirty years have seen major changes in the relationship between humanity and the Earth system. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, RIO 92, brought both the society and the scientific community, in general, the perception of the need for an integrated view of the Earth and the meaning of the irresponsible intensity of the exploitation of natural resources, by definition restricted to the planet. From this convention emerged integrative initiatives in the natural, human, and social sciences. Two fields of geoscientific knowledge have emerged: geoconservation and geoethics. Geoconservation, more widespread today, deals with the conservation of outcrops, rocks, minerals, and fossils of geoscientific relevance and their forming processes, spreading its values both at the scientific, educational, and tourist levels. Geoethics, for its part, is concerned with the relationship between humanity and the Earth system, seeking to act in education as well as in the professional practice of geoscientists. Between both fields, there is an overlap of action zones. In these overlapping zones, intensive rock sampling in important outcrops from the point of view of geoconservation is discussed. What is in focus is the responsibility of geoscientists to preserve the integrity of emblematic outcrops in the construction of knowledge about geohistory. Equally important are the way and quality of the dissemination of information on the elements of geodiversity and the implications for society, in terms of natural disasters and those resulting from the anthropic activity. This article presents an analysis of the interaction between these fields in the educational agenda of universities and professional associations of geoscientists.

Strategic diagnosis of geocommunication using SWOT analysis in the Varvite Geological Park, São Paulo, Brazil

The central concern for geodiversity conservation is the low perception of its importance and appreciation by society, as the individual rarely values ​​what he does not know. Thus, communication is essential to promote a better perception and comprehension by the public and, consequently, the conservation of geodiversity. Geosites are exceptional places to promote the communication of Geosciences because they allow public engagement through the enchantment provided, for example, by the story that can be told there. The Varvite Geological Park is a geosite of Sao Paulo state and is frequently used in formal education field activities pointing out its importance to geoscience knowledge dissemination. This municipal park brings important geodiversity elements that represent the late Paleozoic glaciation in southeastern Brazil, such as sedimentary structures, dropstones and ichnofossils. The development of a communication strategy requires an understanding of the Park's current situation. To this end, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the Varvite Geological Park was carried out involving several stakeholders whose professional performance is related to the Park. This analysis resulted in a situational matrix with data organized in four quadrants that considered strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The results of the SWOT analysis pointed out a discontinuity in the existing communication actions and that an integrated and strategic approach is missing. Thus, the current communication gives to the visitor a fragmented view of Park's geological, historical and cultural context. Consequently, the potential to disseminate important geological concepts for public understanding and preservation is not fully explored.

Tasmanian Reserve Geoconservation Inventory Assessment Using Geographic Information Technology (GIT)

Geoconservation is, at its foundation, a grass-roots movement with geoheritage found in geosites containing the most scientifically significant and valuable examples of geodiversity in geosites. Problems arise in the assessment and communication of inventory due to many reasons including lack of consistency in assessment strategies, lack of protections, and a range of traditionally time-consuming, ‘snapshot’ assessments that capture data via means that are not suitable for broadscale public consumption. The case study of Mount Wellington and the encompassing IUCN Category II Wellington Park Reserve was chosen to explore the complexities of geosite and geodiversity site assessment, detection and communication. We revised a 25-year-old inventory that had employed more traditional rapid in-field assessment and expert knowledge approaches, using digital tools. We configured the ‘Collector for ArcGIS’ app for in-field data collection with geoheritage and geodiversity site attributes to be assessed for scientific value, potential touristic use, and potential educational use. We used a combination of other digital tools, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to present a comprehensively assessed and interactive online inventory of Wellington Park geosites. Our findings suggested that many of the putative geosites in the park had low or moderate scientific values. These sites possessed higher additional educational or touristic use values, especially in the public-facing zones of the park towards local urban centres. Though degradation risk to most sites was relatively low-moderate, due to the resistance of the doleritic geology of much of the park, the positioning of the public-facing zones of the park in close proximity to the major urban centre of Hobart risked adding additional impacts via increased visitation. The Wellington Park is a significant protected area that aims to tell an important story about the evolution of the periglaciated terrain and the endemic fauna and flora that depend upon it. In this sense, the possibility that not all putative geosites have high scientific value (and instead, might be better classed as geodiversity sites) is of limited concern, because the myriad geodiversity elements and additional value rankings (including 50% being highly ‘representative’ elements) provide an opportunity for all who visit the park to observe a coherent story about Tasmania in an easily accessible location. The opportunities realised in the creation of the digital inventory and assessment process are significant for managers however, because they allow for a number of improvements on issues that currently hamper practical geoconservation.

Serviços Ecossistêmicos da Geodiversidade: Avaliação e Propostas de Valoração em Locais de Interesse Geológico do Parque Nacional de Ubajara, Ceará, Brasil

A superexploração do capital natural pela sociedade atual consolida uma crise ambiental global. Diversas abordagens, dentre as quais a dos Serviços Ecossistêmicos, foram formuladas visando frear a degradação e fomentar medidas de conservação ambiental. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho analisa os bens e os serviços ecossistêmicos prestados por elementos da geodiversidade nos locais de interesse geológico (LIG) do Parque Nacional de Ubajara, Ceará, Brasil. A metodologia parte do inventário de LIGs, da avaliação quanti-qualitativa e da proposição de estratégias de valoração em âmbito local. Foram inventariados onze LIGs de relevância nacional que prestam diversos serviços ecossistêmicos. As propostas de valoração têm como alicerce a relação com os agentes econômicos e sociais locais, sendo passíveis de replicação em diferentes unidades de conservação brasileiras.

Assessment of impacts on ecosystem services provided by geodiversity in highly urbanised areas: A case study of the Taubaté Basin, Brazil

This work presents a method to identify, to evaluate and to quantify the losses of the offer of ecosystem services provided by geodiversity, using as a case study the Taubaté Basin region, a highly urbanized portion of southeastern São Paulo State, Brazil. Our method considers not only the qualitative analysis of the abiotic aspects, but also the historical and cultural context, in which the geodiversity elements are crucial for local economy development. The method is based on: i) Qualitative evaluation and definition of six Essential Geodiversity Variables (EGVs), used as the basis for the identification of 53 ecosystem services distributed into four functions: regulating, supporting, provisioning, and cultural; ii) Definition of land use categories based on two land use maps elaborated in order to compare the transformation occurred in the region between 1986 and 2016; iii) Quantification and evaluation of the impacts on the offer of ecosystem services caused by land use transformations occurred in region in a 30–year gap. The results showed that anthropogenic action is the main factor that alter the availability of local services, with emphasis on the supply of water, soils and mineral resources, and its potentially influence on the quality of life of certain species. We reinforce the view that public policies on land management and planning should consider the ecosystem assessment, as it provides evidence to propose actions to mitigate impacts and for environmental compensation, favoring the sustainable use of resources by society.

A Discussion on the Quantification and Classification of Geodiversity Indices Based on GIS Methodological Tests

Quantitative assessment methods are attaining special attention in geodiversity research. Procedures to map geodiversity indices have been proposed by several authors though there is no consensus on how to best apply and replicate them in diverse areas. A contribution to the quantitative mapping of geodiversity using GIS tools of quantification and classification is presented. These procedures were applied in the municipality of Miguel Pereira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A quantification stage is supported by the multiparts technique, in which the geodiversity elements are considered without pondering their repetition, and by the singleparts technique, where the repetitions are counted. Geodiversity is then mapped and classified according to the MOV (maximum obtained value) that considers the highest score obtained by the sum of the geodiversity sub-indices and to the MPV (maximum possible value) defined by the sum of the maximum scores in each of the geodiversity sub-indices. The maps produced according to the singleparts tools reflect a higher difference between the minimum and maximum scores of geodiversity, and using the MPV more areas are classified with low geodiversity. Fieldwork surveys support the idea that combining the multiparts technique for geodiversity quantification with the MOV to its classification is more appropriate to characterize the geodiversity of the area. Nevertheless, using different methodological approaches may generate significantly different results, what must be taken into account when considering geodiversity as a support tool in land management.

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

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.

Geodiversity index weighted by multivariate statistical analysis

Although there are differences in geodiversity definitions, there is a consensus that the term covers elements of abiotic nature like geology, geomorphology, soils, among others. However, the attempt to evaluate these geodiversity elements revealed the need to create methodologies that can quantify them. In this sense, the goal of this study was to propose and implement a method capable of measuring geodiversity through a weighted index using multivariate statistics (principal component analysis) to rank a data set and indicate the real influence of each variable on geodiversity distribution. As a case study, we used the Guarulhos municipality (Sao Paulo state, Brazil). The results indicated that the variable “soils” was the one that most influenced the geodiversity index, due to its higher spatial variance, followed by the layers “geology,” “hydrography,” and “relief.” The Geoindex map pointed out that the sites of greatest geodiversity were those where there was high variability of latosol, cambisol, and gleysols, as well as where the lithology pointed to rocks of the Ferrous Formation, granitoid, metapelites, and restricted floodplains adjacent to areas with a high density of lineaments. Hill relief and high-density drainage patterns also influenced the increase of the Geoindex. This map also pointed out that areas of natural heritage, such as waterfalls, rocky outcrops, and lookouts, appeared associated respectively with high, medium, and low values of geodiversity.

Geoconservação em Monumentos Naturais no Brasil

Foi evidenciada a relevância da geodiversidade para a conservação da natureza através de um levantamento das unidades de conservação da categoria de Monumentos Naturais no Brasil. A fonte principal de dados foi o Cadastro Nacional de Unidades de Conservação - CNUC. O conceito de Monumento Natural foi analisado para o Brasil na literatura e em órgãos de proteção ao património, nomeadamente IPHAN, UNESCO e IUCN. Foram identificados 60 Monumentos Naturais no Brasil. A criação de Monumentos Naturais apresentou como principal motivação aspectos ligados à geodiversidade, algumas vezes associados à biodiversidade e/ou aspectos culturais. Muitos destes atributos estão relacionados a aspectos geomorfológicos que formam a paisagem e servem de estrutura para os biomas protegidos e a beleza cênica local. Frequentemente, mais de um tipo de feição geomorfológica ou atributo é encontrado em um mesmo Monumento Natural. Os elementos da geodiversidade que justificam os Monumentos Naturais brasileiros são: resquícios paleontológicos; maciços; cavidades naturais; serras; inselbergs; rios; lagoas; cânions; cachoeiras; falésias; dunas; e ilhas oceânicas. Os Monumentos Naturais possuem uma relação direta com a ideia de herança, ao se vincularem a aspectos geomorfológicos e culturais. O conceito de Monumento Natural na legislação brasileira deveria ser revisto para aproximar-se do conceito da IUCN que explicita componentes geológicos, culturais, espirituais e a associação com a biodiversidade local.

Interface of Geodiversity, Geomorphosites, Geotourism and Seasonal Economy in Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

Interface of Geodiversity with human response can be understood simply as, the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil and hydrological features including their assemblages, structures, systems and contributions to landscapes together with the anthropogenic amalgamation in the landscape system. Geomorphosites are those components of geodiversity that have acquired a scientific, cultural/historical, aesthetic and socio-economic value due to human perception or exploitation (Panizza, 2001). The trans-Himalayan district of Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India is a landlocked district in trans-Himalaya accessible seasonally through high mountain passes; where the interface is manifested though human response to the geodiversity elements. The abiotic factors play a significant role in generating stimuli and the human response varies accordingly in the study area. It is also known as the Tethyan Himalayan region, where the interface (interactive zone/crossing point/edge) of Geomorphosites and human response in terms of geotourism has been analysed and mapped. The data has been collected through extensive field work using structured questionnaire survey and field observations at geomorphosites having unique characteristics. The field work has been done in May–June 2017 and June 2018. The assessment of human response in terms of seasonal economy and geotourism has been done using GIS environment, GPS and SWOT analysis. The study highlights that potential geotourism sites have to be further identified, explored and developed in the region and the existing sites have to be conserved in order to harness the tremendous geotourism potential of the region and thereby boosting the seasonal economy.

Geological monitoring in protected areas

Recognition of geoheritage values and conservation of their geodiversity elements are largely neglected in protected areas. As geoheritage and geodiveristy were recognized as a part of nature conservation by IUCN recently, understanding the characters of geoheritage sites and the development of proper monitoring measures have been important among managing communities and stakeholders. It is suggested that different monitoring methods and indicators should be developed depending upon physical setting of protected areas and tourism conditions. This paper deals with various monitoring methods and indicators to be carried out for geo-conservation and sustainable use. This will help managers build up a basic management plan for geological monitoring.

Old Processes, New Movements: The Inclusion of Geodiversity in Biological and Ecological Discourse

There exists substantial variation in the qualitative and quantitative interpretations of the concept of geodiversity and its embedded elements and values. The resulting divergence and ambiguity in applications of the term constrain its present use as an operationalized concept in nature conservation research and discourse, unlike its seemingly analogous biotic term, ‘biodiversity’. This paper presents findings from a critical literature review of 299 academic journal articles and texts that define geodiversity values, or otherwise incorporate geodiversity or its derived elements and values as components of conservation. Contrary to previous suggestions, we have found that most geoscientists have united behind a single definition of geodiversity and applied it frequently in their primary and applied, geotouristic, research. Qualitative elements of geodiversity, including system support values and aesthetic appeals within nature conservation, have been largely confined to geoconservation and geoscientific literature and are nearly absent from biological discourse. Encouragingly, however, we have observed a more recent increase in research pertaining to quantitative interpretations of abiotic geodiversity elements and their relationship with the spatial distribution and abundance of species. Although the inclusion of geodiversity elements (quantitative and qualitative) in conservation assessment and biodiversity research has been and remains far less universal than for biodiversity elements, there is strong potential for further unification of these two concepts, especially though collaborative quantitative research. The more that geodiversity is discussed outside of geographic and geoscientific disciplines, broader recognition and validated use of the concept of geodiversity will be used in the understanding, interpretation, and protection of patterns and processes at the landscape scale.