Diversity as a general basis of tourism – system approach

The general basis for tourism consists in the diversity of natural and man-made environment. The diversity can be considered as a natural characteristic of natural and anthropogenic systems produced by them as a condition of its continuance and development at all levels. When assessing tourism, geodiversity, biodiversity and socio-economic diversity, which includes technological diversity might be defined. Geodiversity and biodiversity coupled with technological diversity for the basis of geoscience and montanistic tourism. In the case of biodiversity, in terms of tourism regional and structural types of diversity are particularly important that can be parallelized with a geotope and a geophenomenon. The aim is to highlight the need for system approach to the analysis of tourism as a complex phenomenon with a complex structure.Obecným základem turizmu je diverzita přírodního a antropogenního prostředí. diverzitu lze považovat za přirozenou vlastnost přírodních a antropogenních systémů, kterou si samy vytvářejí, jakožto podmínku svého setrvání a rozvoje na všech úrovních. Při posuzování turizmu lze vymezit geodiverzitu, biodiverzitu a socio-ekonomickou diverzitu, jejíž součástí je technologická diverzita. Geodiverzita a biodiverzita představuje spolu s trechnologickou diverzitou základ geovědního a montánního turizmu. V případě biodiverzity je z hlediska turizmu důležitá především regionální diverzita a strukturní diverzita, které lze paralelizovat s geotopem a geofenoménem. Cílem je poukázat na nutnost systémového přístupu k analýze turizmu jako komplexního jevu se složitou strukturou

London’s foundations protecting the geodiversity of the capital

This report describes a geodiversity audit of London commissioned by a partnership led by the Greater London Authority (GLA), which includes the British Geological Survey (BGS), Natural England, Government Office for London, London Biodiversity Partnership, London Borough of Lambeth, Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society, South London London RIGS Groups, Hanson UK and Queen Mary College, University of London. The project was funded by an Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund grant from Natural England plus additional support from the GLA, BGS and Natural England London Region. The audit began with a review of the available geodiversity documentation for London including: BGS field maps, databases and publications; Regional Important Geological Sites (RIGS) Group information; Natural England Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Geological Conservation Review (GCR) documentation; and documentation and data from the GLA and London Boroughs. An initial list of around 470 sites with potential for geodiversity value was compiled from this information. This list was then narrowed down to 100 for further assessment by exporting site locations to a GIS and cross-checking against digital aerial photography backed up by BGS staff local geological expertise. Using the procedure set out in this report field auditing was carried out by BGS staff and the South London RIGS Group between November 2007 and April 2008. From the list of 100 sites, 35 sites were found to be suitable for detailed auditing. Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society audited a further site in November 2008, bringing the total to 36 sites. Using the criteria set out in this report 14 of the 36 sites are recommended for designation as Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites (RIGS) in borough Local Development Documents. Of the 33 London boroughs, RIGS are recommended in eight, with five in Bromley, three in Croydon and one each in Lewisham, Ealing, Greenwich, Harrow, Hillingdon and Bexley. Using the criteria set out in this report 15 of the 36 sites have the potential to be designated as Locally Important Geological Sites (LIGS). These sites are located in nine boroughs, three in Waltham Forest, two in Bromley, two in Islington and one each in Barnet, Lewisham, Redbridge, Wandsworth, Southwark and Sutton. Planning proposals should have regard to geodiversity in order to implement strategic and local policies. Sites should be protected, managed and enhanced and, where ppropriate, new development should provide improvements to the geodiversity value of a site. This can include measures that promote public access, study, interpretation and appreciation of geodiversity. In addition to individual sites of geodiversity interest, Greater London has distinctive natural landscapes shaped by geological processes, such as undulating chalk downlands with dry valleys in south London, and river terraces forming long flat areas separated by steeper areas of terrace front slopes. This natural topographic geodiversity underlying London should be understood, respected and only altered in that knowledge with full knowledge of it origin and form. Planners are encouraged to use authentic contouring in restoration work and new landscaping schemes, maintain the contributions of natural topography, rock outcrops, landscape features, and to maintain soil quality, quantity and function

Geodiversity, and the geoethical principles for its preservation

The history of the origin and evolution of the term ‘geodiversity’ is described, and its present definitions are given. Several types of values of geodiversity are considered. Moreover, a new type of value is defined: the information value of geodiversity, as developed from the ethical principles of geodiversity preservatio

Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter: a step forward for Scottish Geoparks

Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter was launched in June 2012 to demonstrate and promote the wider values of Scotland’s geological heritage. The four main aims of the charter are to raise awareness of the importance of geodiversity, integrate geodiversity into relevant policies, conserve and enhance geodiversity, and to improve our understanding of the wider role of geodiversity. Led by the voluntary geoconservation sector through the Scottish Geodiversity Forum, the Charter has over 45 signatories to date including public bodies, NGOs, industry and landowner representatives, geoconservation groups and Geoparks. Both Shetland Geopark and North West Highlands Geopark are actively embracing the aims of the charter, primarily by raising awareness of geodiversity and through the integration of geoconservation into relevant policies, both locally and regionally. Ultimately, Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter will encourage a large number of stakeholders to work together to provide positive benefits for both people and the environment

Geotourism and local development based on geological and mining sites utilization, zaruma-portovelo, Ecuador

This study offers a detailed assessment of the geosites and mining sites present in the Zaruma-Portovelo mining district (Ecuador) through their qualitative and quantitative assessment. It shows up the potentiality of this area taking advantage of its geological-mining heritage. The methodological process includes: (i) compilation and inventory of all the sites within the study area with particular geological or mining interest; (ii) preparation of reports and thematic cartography, (iii) assessment and classification of the elements of geological-mining interest; (iv) SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and TOWS (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strengths) matrix preparation seeking strategies to guarantee the viability of geotourism. A total of 16 sites of geological interest and 11 of mining interest were identified. The 77% of these sites was proved to be of high and very high interest in scientific terms. Likewise, their susceptibility to degradation assessed from their vulnerability and fragility was found to be high or very high in the 30% of the cases. As for the protection priority, all the studied sites obtained a medium-high result. Finally, the study based on the SWOT-TOWS revealed the possibility of applying action strategies in order to facilitate the compatibility of geotourism with the current productive activities, despite the difficult situation in the study area created by mining activities

The classification and management of limestone pavements - an endangered habitat

This thesis describes an in-depth study of limestone pavements across North West England and North Wales. The aim was to combine elements of geodiversity and biodiversity in order to create a holistic limestone pavement classification to inform future management. A field-based research protocol was used to assess a stratified random sample (46 pavements), accounting for approximately 10% of the limestone pavements in the geographical area. Detailed analyses of key elements are presented, along with important issues that continue to pose threats to this Annex One Priority Habitat. This research resulted in a comprehensive classification, using TWINSPAN analysis and Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling, identifying six distinct holistic functional groups. The prime factors driving limestone pavement morphology, and hence the classification, were established to be lithology, proximity to structural fault, altitude and human intervention, particularly in terms of grazing intensity. Three upland, open limestone pavement classes were formed. Of these, the richest in terms of geodiversity and biodiversity was the group with the thickest bedding planes and hence the deepest grikes, typically greater than 1m. The class that was most species-poor was "at the highest altitude (above 450m), formed on the thin limestones of the Yoredales. These were characterised by shallow, wide grikes. The third upland limestone pavement group had mid-range grikes, generally 0.5-1m in depth, and small clints. Two wooded classes were identified. One was a lowland 'classic' wooded limestone pavement group with deep, narrow grikes and shallow soils. Indicator species included Juniperus communis and Taxus baccata. The second wooded group was situated proximal to a major structural fault. In this group the pavement dip ranged between 10°-40° with well-runnelled clints that were heavily moss-covered. The sixth group was low altitude, proximal to the coast, characterised by low moss growth, un-vegetated clints and the presence of Ulex europaeus. Conservation management was identified as key to the quality of the limestone pavement habitat and this thesis identifies best management practises and links these to the holistic limestone pavement classification. Finally, as a sample case study, this thesis presents mollusc species and diversity from eleven of the Yorkshire limestone pavements. Analysis establishes significant links between geodiversity and mollusc populations, with key drivers for mollusc communities echoing those of plant species on limestone pavement.Funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the University of Chester

Geodiversity of Ceará State (Brazil): assessment and mapping

The results on the geodiversity assessment of Ceará State (148,016 km2, northeast Brazil) are presented. The assessment was performed using a methodology based on the counting of occurrences of geodiversity with cartographical data and GIS procedures. This work is part of the methodological approaches applied in other large territories in Brazil and Portugal considering geodiversity as the diversity of rocks, fossils, lanforms, soils, water resources, and mineral and energy sources occurrences. Therefore, the geodiversity index resulted from the sum of the six partial indices: i) lithological; ii) paleontological; iii) geomorphological; iv) pedological; vi) hydrological; vi) mineral occurrences. The Geodiversity Index score of each grid square is the sum of all partial indices. Hydrological partial index was an upgrade to the previous five-partial indices methodological proposal, considering both surface water resources and ground water as essential components of geodiversity. Furthermore, the traditional cell grid used to operate the counting of geodiversity elements was substituted by a territorial organization by drainage sub-basins. Vector cartographical data were obtained from official Brazilian institutions and treated with GIS software to generate the six partial indices. According to the type of occurences these indices may have very different ranges thus values were normalized to a maximum of 5 points each. The sum of partial indices in each drainage sub-basin resulted in a quantitative map of geodiversity with values from 4 to 26. Subsequently the values were interpolated using the Kriging method delivering the geodiversity map of the Ceará State. Geodiversity index was here defined with qualitative values ranging from “very low” to “very high”. The regions Noroeste Cearense and Sul Cearense have the highest geodiversity in the state while the region Sertões Cearenses has the lowest. The use of specific GIS procedures increases the mapping options and confirmed that they can speed-up spatial analysis to calculate geodiversity if official digital maps are available.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geodiversity audit of Spireslack and Mainshill Wood surface coal mines

This report describes a geodiversity audit of the Spireslack and Mainshill Wood surface coal mines (SCM) carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS) on behalf of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT). For the present study, in order to place the geodiversity of the two SCMs in context, BGS records and published sources of the surrounding geology were reviewed, including digital geological maps and historic field slips, digital aerial photography, and published papers, memoirs and reports. Documentation for nearby sites already recognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and/or Geological Conservation Review (GCR) sites was also reviewed. Field assessments of sections within Spireslack were conducted in August 2015. Due to flooding restrictions, access to Mainshill Wood was not possible. Therefore, data from previous field visits and photography by BGS geologists are used within this report to document sites of geodiversity value there. Geoscientific merit of individual sites within Spireslack was evaluated in terms of the rarity and quality of the key features displayed at the site, according to well-established procedures. Spireslack and Mainshill Wood SCMs provide spectacular exposures of Carboniferous strata not otherwise seen naturally on anything approaching the same scale or completeness across the whole of Scotland, or further afield in the UK. As such, they are of national significance. A total of 18 sections were identified as candidates for recognition and protection as local geodiversity sections within Spireslack, whilst the whole of the remaining void within the south-western corner of Mainshill Wood is presented as a geodiversity site worthy of protection. The sections selected include the best examples of geological features within each surface mine and are considered to be representative of the diverse range of geological strata and structures that characterise the geology of these sites and the wider surrounding area. It is recommended that these sections within Spireslack and Mainshill Wood should be protected and preserved during any subsequent development of the surface mine workings. Many of the identified sections of local geodiversity value have the potential to be enhanced through interpretation on site to inform visitors and students at all levels about geology, and the links they have with the local economic and cultural heritage within East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, and the Central Belt of Scotland as a whole. These sites also offer opportunities to the research community, to generate a wide spectrum of internationally significant teaching and strategic research activity. Whilst Spireslack and Mainshill can be considered as ‘flagship’ sites in terms of their spectacular exposures of complete stratigraphic sequences and unique structural geology preserved within them, they also form part of a subset of inactive and active surface mine sites across East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. Collectively, and in the longer term, this network could form the basis for a potential Geopark across the south-western Central Belt of Scotland