The inventory and quantitative assessment of the most valuable occurrences of geodiversity are essential steps in any geoconservation strategy and in the establishment of priorities in site management. Despite the existence of many site inventories applied to different scales (countries, municipalities, parks, etc.), the criteria used for their selection are often unclear and poorly defined. This paper proposes a new approach to the concepts of geosite and geodiversity site and reviews the procedures used in the development of a systematic site inventory applied to different scales and values. Procedures to achieve a numerical evaluation of the value and degradation risk of sites are reviewed and new criteria are proposed. Finally, guidelines are presented, bearing in mind the preparation of effective geodiversity inventories, to support geoparks’ strategies. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding and use of the above-mentioned concepts, which are essential for the implementation of geoconservation actions worldwide.

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Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Geosites and Geodiversity Sites: a Review

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets a series of sustainable development goals (SDGs) “to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all” by 2030. The Agenda influence...

Constructing sustainable tourism development: the 2030 agenda and the managerial ecology of sustainable tourism.

Citer cet article Bétard, F. (2015). Protection et valorisation du patrimoine géomorphologique en Île-de-France (Bassin de Paris, France) : État des lieux et perspectives. [VertigO] La revue électronique en sciences de l’environnement, 15(1). Résumé de l'article Reconnu depuis une dizaine d’années seulement, le patrimoine géomorphologique fait l’objet d’une attention accrue de la part des scientifiques et des acteurs du territoire, en raison des menaces grandissantes qui pèsent sur la préservation des reliefs et des paysages, mais aussi compte tenu des potentialités qu’offre la valorisation culturelle et touristique des sites d’intérêt géomorphologique (ou géomorphosites) pour le développement local. En France métropolitaine, la région Île-de-France concentre des enjeux forts en matière de conservation et de valorisation du patrimoine géomorphologique, surtout face à l’urbanisation croissante qui le menace directement, alors que les habitants et les visiteurs représentent un public de plus en plus demandeur pour connaître et découvrir ce nouveau type de géopatrimoine sous un angle culturel ou touristique. Cet article propose de dresser un état des lieux de la protection et de la valorisation du patrimoine géomorphologique francilien, en examinant plus particulièrement (i) les outils qui ont été utilisés jusqu’à présent pour protéger les géomorphosites remarquables de la région et (ii) les acteurs engagés dans des démarches de valorisation didactique et touristique du patrimoine géomorphologique. Des exemples choisis viennent illustrer de façon concrète les moyens qui ont été mis en oeuvre sur les géomorphosites en matière de protection, de gestion et de mise en valeur. Des perspectives sont dégagées à l’issue de cette analyse, compte tenu des inventaires en cours, des stratégies nationales de création d’aires protégées et des volontés politiques locales de mettre en valeur le patrimoine géomorphologique de leur territoire.

VertigO-la revue électronique en sciences de l'environnement

. The Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), with an area of about 750 km2, is one of the largest protected areas in Portugal. Since its inauguration as a natural park in 1979, geological and geomorphological aspects have not been taken into consideration in its nature conservation policies. Over the last few years, this deficit has been compensated with an assessment of its geomorphological heritage. The assessment was made possible due to a research project on the geological heritage of the natural parks of north-eastern Portugal.The assessment method propagated herein proposes a clear definition of three types of geomorphosites: Single places, geomorphological areas or panoramic viewpoints. Further, it proposes as two-staged approach to assessment with inventory compilation followed by quantification of value. Inventory compilation, for example, involves the identification and qualitative assessment of potential geomorphosites and, therefore, the selection and characterization of geomorphosites. The quantification stage includes the numerical assessment of sites and their final ranking. The values are numerically assessed using selected criteria. The implementation of this approach in the MNP led to the identification of 154 potential geomorphosites, of which only 26 were selected after the qualitative assessment or characterisation process. The numerical assessment of the sites and their ranking allowed a final selection of 13 sites for public use.

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Geomorphosite assessment in Montesinho Natural Park (Portugal)

The main purpose of geoconservation is the conservation of geosites as basic units of the geological heritage through the implementation of specific inventory, evaluation, conservation, valuation and monitoring procedures. In this paper, geoconservation is characterised as an emergent geoscience within the Earth and Space Sciences where its scope and methods, as well as production and validation of knowledge can be recognised–thus defining Basic Geoconservation–, interrelations with other earth sciences can be established–thus supporting Applied Geoconservation–, and Technical Applications of Geoconservation can be identified through the production of materials, methods and/or scientific services useful to society, namely geoeducation. Promoting scientific education relevant to sustainable development requires new educational approaches involving the Earth Sciences, namely through geoconservation, in order to provide citizens with tools to face environmental problems, such as those arising from the depletion of geological resources—which seriously threaten the geological heritage of the Earth—and the information, skills and will make forward-looking choices, like supporting the legal protection of Natural Monuments and/or the implementation of geotourism (including geoparks).

/pdf/geoconservation-as-an-emerging-geoscience-5bgu91jc1j.pdf

Geoconservation as an Emerging Geoscience

https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/5432/3/jb.pdf

Património geológico e geoconservação : a conservação da natureza na sua vertente geológica

https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/54728/1/brilha_etal_2018.pdf

Geodiversity: An integrative review as a contribution to the sustainable management of the whole of nature

An adequate management of geological heritage by national and regional authorities presupposes the existence of a solid geosites inventory. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many countries. Most often, there is no national inventory at all or the method and criteria used to assess geosites was not adequate. This paper makes an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the most common procedures to produce a geosite inventory and proposes a methodology particularly adapted for large territories such as Brazil. Nevertheless, this methodological approach can be easily adapted to any other geographical or geological setting, promoting the characterization and conservation of the world's geological heritage.

/pdf/inventorying-geological-heritage-in-large-territories-a-3ds80qlu4y.pdf

José Brilha

Papers

Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Geosites and Geodiversity Sites: a Review

Geoconservation as an Emerging Geoscience

Património geológico e geoconservação : a conservação da natureza na sua vertente geológica

Geodiversity: An integrative review as a contribution to the sustainable management of the whole of nature

Inventorying geological heritage in large territories : a methodological proposal applied to Brazil