Geotourism and Geoheritage Conservation

Geotourism and geoheritage conservation examine how geological and geomorphological features of the Earth — from volcanic landscapes to fossil-rich outcrops — can be documented, protected, and made accessible to the public without being degraded in the process. The core challenge is developing frameworks that assign scientific and cultural value to these sites, known as geomorphosites, so that land managers and tourism planners can weigh geological significance against economic pressures. Researchers are actively working to standardize assessment methods across the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network and to better integrate geodiversity — the natural variety of rocks, landforms, and soils — into broader ecosystem service decisions that have traditionally focused on biodiversity. Open questions include how to measure the long-term effectiveness of geoconservation policies and how local communities can be more equitably included in governing the cultural landscapes that often surround sites of geological importance.

Works

34,596

Total citations

86,024

Keywords

GeotourismGeoheritageGeodiversityGeoconservationGeomorphositesSustainable Tourism