Inventory and quantitative assessment of geosites and geodiversity sites: a review

"Published online: 15 January 2015"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.The author thanks Diamantino Pereira, Flavia Lima, and Paulo Pereira for fruitful discussions and insights; Teresa Mota for the English revision; and the reviewers for significant improvements of the first submitted version. This paper results of the research done at the University of Minho and at the Geology Centre of the University of Porto, partially founded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal), strategic project with reference PEst-OE/CTE/UI0039/2014

The inventory of geological heritage of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Methodological basis, results and perspectives

An inventory of geological sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. This paper describes the method used in the geoheritage inventory of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and presents its main results. This inventory developed by the geoscientific community aimed to identify geosites with scientific value in the whole state, using a systematic approach. All 142 geosites representative of 11 geological frameworks were characterised and quantitatively evaluated according to their scientific value and risk of degradation, in order to establish priorities for their future management. An online database of the inventory is under construction, which will be available to be easily consulted and updated by the geoscientific community. All data were made available to the State Geological Institute as the backbone for the implementation of a future state geoconservation strategy.The authors acknowledge the Science Without Borders Programme, Process 075/2012, which supported this study and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Process 2011/17261-6. We also thanks C. Mazoca for his help with maps and figures.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

GEOSITES - an International Union of Geological Sciences initiative to conserve our geological heritage

GEOSITES aims to compile an international inventory of use in conservation, nationally and internationally, aiding national and wider efforts to protect sites and promote geoconservation. Past efforts to label sites as being of international interest or significance or as worthy of World Heritage status have always run up against the lack of a proper database of sites, let alone one selected and judged in a comparative manner. The consequence has been that there has been no meaningful attempt to list sites of "international significance" and judgements of sites for World Heritage status can only be undertaken using rather subjective methods, that do not consider the complexity of geology in space and time. Therefore, GEOSITES proposes to adopt the kinds of methodical approach already being used in some national schemes for selection. The intention is to extend the network of involved specialists in each country, to form regional and national groups of contributors, involving workers to cover all necessary topics (geological, geomorphological and landscape). We will identify the vital elements of the geology of each country - those salient and important features, large or small, which must be demonstrated; then Geosites will be selected - to exemplify the vital geo(morpho)logical elements of the country and region. We will use the Geosites standard recording format to start to document the preliminary site/terrain selections

Geological heritage conservation on international, regional, national and local levels

Europejska Asocjacja Ochrony Dziedzictwa Geologicznego (ProGEO) jest stowarzyszeniem europejskich specjalistów zajmujących się problemami ochrony geośrodowiska, a także naukowców-geologów, planistów, menedżerów i nauczycieli. ProGEO działa jako ośrodek promujący ochronę bogatego europejskiego dziedzictwa w zakresie krajobrazu i skał oraz stanowisk skamieniałości i minerałów. Poprzez inicjowanie wspólnych projektów, wdrażających dobre doświadczenia konserwatorskie, stara się mobilizować doświadczenie, zapał i dobrą wolę specjalistów, a także wpływać na politycznych decydentów szczebla krajowego i międzynarodowego. ProGEO jest stowarzyszeniem otwartym dla wszystkich zainteresowanych, a członkowie jej Rady reprezentują wszystkie narody europejskie. ProGEO traktuje siebie jako ciało międzynarodowe posiadające możliwość przemawiania w imieniu wszystkich zaangażowanych w ochronę stanowisk geologicznych w Europie. ProGEO działa poprzez swoje Regionalne Grupy Robocze. ProGEO ma swój udział w opracowaniu przez Radę Europy Pan-Europejskiej Strategii Różnorodności Biologicznej oraz Krajobrazu. ProGEO nawiązało również współpracę z IUGS i UNESCO, dla których opracowuje europejską listę do włączenia w projekt Geosite. ProGEO zamierza przygotować jednolitą listę najważniejszych europejskich stanowisk geologicznych jako wsparcie dla działań organizacji międzynarodowych. Członkowie ProGEO starają się opracować ujednolicone podejście do ochrony przyrody, promując jednocześnie całościowe ujmowanie ochrony zjawisk biologicznych i fizycznych. ProGEO odbywa plenarne posiedzenia co dwa lata. ProGEO organizuje ponadto duże sympozja międzynarodowe na temat geokonserwacji. Dzięki wsparciu UNESCO problematyka geokonserwacji po raz pierwszy została włączona do programu 30-tego Międzynarodowego Kongresu Geologicznego w Pekinie, w Chinach (1996) oraz 31-szego MKG w Rio de Janeiro w Brazylii (2000). ProGEO prowadzi rozmaite projekty, jak np. GeoTrip i Geosites. Poza tym ProGEO szerzy swoją wiedzę przez informatory, materiały pokonferencyjne, ulotki i strony internetowe. Za wybór stanowisk do ochrony dziedzictwa geologicznego na narodowym i lokalnym poziomie odpowiedzialne są Narodowe Grupy ProGEO

Biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy of the uppermost Tithonian–Lower Berriasian in the Theodosia area of Crimea (southern Ukraine)

We present evidence for the uppermost Jurassic-lowest Cretaceous interval in Crimea, coastal southern Ukraine. Three facies zones are distinguished in the upper Dvuyakornaya and the Mayak formations of the eastern Crimean Peninsula: basinal, slope and toe-of-slope zones. In this interval we identify the lowest Berriasian Jacobi and Grandis subzones of authors, in expanded form, exceeding 160 metres in thickness. We present new magnetostratigraphic interpretations, and identify two normal and two reversed polarity intervals, assigned to M19n, M18r, M18n and M17r, with M19n2n, M19n1r and M19n1n identified in the uppermost Dvuyakornaya Formation. In the Mayak Formation we record the top of M19n.1n, with M18r, M18n and a thick M17r above. In these two formations component calpionellid species have been identified which characterise the Alpina, Ferasini and Elliptica subzones (Calpionella Zone). In M19n, the FADs of the calcareous nannofossils Hexalithus strictus, Cruciellipsis cuvillieri, Nannoconus wintereri, N. steinmannii minor and N. kamptneri minor are found, which is consistent with other Tethyan regions. N. steinmannii steinmannii and N. kamptneri kamptneri first appear in M18r at Ili Burnu . Specimens of the apparently Tithonian foraminiferan index Anchispirocyclina lusitanica are found, but in the Berriasian lower Mayak Formation

Preface Marine and Non-marine Jurassic: Boundary Events and Correlation

is an important period in geological history for the evolution of life and Earth. Numerous global events happened during this period: (1) Tectonic activity was at a very high level, the breakup and drifting of Pangea, associated with extensive volcanism at the beginning of Jurassis in the Central Atlantic province occurred, as well as the violent Circum Pacific (Yanshan) orogeny and volcanic activity caused by the collisions between Palaeo-Pacific margins '51 (2) The palaeogeography greatly changed, e. g. the rifting of the Pangean supercontinent led to the opening of the North Atlantic and to the northwestward drift of North America, resulting in a narrowin