Two-Level Assessment of Threats to Geodiversity and Geoheritage: A Case Study from Hády Quarries (Brno, Czech Republic)
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Geoconservation is an action of conserving and enhancing geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil features and processes, sites and specimens. Originally and usually, the geoconservation activities aim at preserving specific sites of Earth-science interest, respectively geoheritage. However, for effective and sustainable management of geodiversity and geoheritage, it is necessary to take into account the surroundings of those specific sites and undertake the geoconservation measures for wider area. Geoconservation activities involve the care, management, protection and promotion of geoheritage and geodiversity and help to balance the conservation needs and sustainable use of these entities. However, despite established legal protection, threats to geoheritage and geodiversity can arise and reaching a compromise can be difficult. Thus, the identification and assessment of threats should be also included in geoconservation activities. In this paper, the two-level threat assessment is applied and discussed. The first level of threat assessment corresponds to the geoconservation in a strict sense – the method for assessing the threats is based on the already used criteria within geosite/geomorphosite concept. The second level of threat assessment corresponds to the geoconservation in broader sense and here, it is represented by Risk Assessment Matrix which assess the threats within wider area. Using both approaches provides a complex view on the threats to geodiversity and geoheritage in a study area and complement each other. As a case study, we identified and assessed threats, risks and possible conflicts of interest in an area situated in the outskirts of large city (Hády Hill in Brno, Czech Republic). Based on the evaluation, we proposed particular measures that could contribute to the balance of the different demands and more effective geoconservation management in the study area.Keywords:
Geodiversity
Irpinia (Province of Avellino, Campania Region) is a historical–geographical region of Southern Italy inhabited in pre-Roman times by the ancient Samnite tribe of the Irpini, from which the name originates. This area is characterized by both low population density and high naturalness; located on the axial sector of the southern Apennine orogenic chain, the area possesses a complex hilly and mountainous orography, with predominantly agricultural and forest land uses. In this geographical context, there are many relevant geological/geomorphological sites, witnessing a wide geodiversity attributable to complex geological evolution and relief morphogenesis. The extensive bio-geodiversity has thus led to widespread geotourism practices. Irpinia is favored for its beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and typical small towns, often enhanced by quality certifications; moreover, geotourism activities are often associated with other forms of sustainable tourism. Starting from this geographical framework, the article analyzes eight attractive geosites that represent the geotouristic value of the entire Irpinia area well. The analysis was conducted using well-known qualitative and quantitative assessment methods. The results obtained, emphasizing the salient aspects of geodiversity, can be used in planning the usability of the sites and, more generally, planning for the Irpinian landscape in a geo-ecotouristic sense.
Geodiversity
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Arable land
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Nature is a complex structure of physical, chemical and biological aspects, which combined can form landscapes with high scenic value, especially in protected areas. Such landscapes attract tourists engaged in different activities, to seek knowledge, contact, interaction or interpretation of nature. Considering that the tourist attractions can have a key content that motivates the visitation, this study aims to analyze the existing attractions in the National Parks and State Parks of the Brazilian states of Parana (South Region) and Pernambuco (Northeast Region) and quantify the atractive a classification of content associated with geodiversity, biodiversity and historical and cultural aspects. Data were utilized from the Philips National Parks Guide (2003), and the attractions were separated in the categories listed above. The methodology also encompassed visits to some of the Protected Areas, bibliographic surveys on tourism in natural areas, geodiversity and geotourism. It is concluded that geodiversity is the most common group of elements presented in the analyzed protected areas, with the exception of the State Parks of Pernambuco.
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Geotourism
Natural heritage
Nature tourism
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Geoconservation is an action of conserving and enhancing geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil features and processes, sites and specimens. Originally and usually, the geoconservation activities aim at preserving specific sites of Earth-science interest, respectively geoheritage. However, for effective and sustainable management of geodiversity and geoheritage, it is necessary to take into account the surroundings of those specific sites and undertake the geoconservation measures for wider area. Geoconservation activities involve the care, management, protection and promotion of geoheritage and geodiversity and help to balance the conservation needs and sustainable use of these entities. However, despite established legal protection, threats to geoheritage and geodiversity can arise and reaching a compromise can be difficult. Thus, the identification and assessment of threats should be also included in geoconservation activities. In this paper, the two-level threat assessment is applied and discussed. The first level of threat assessment corresponds to the geoconservation in a strict sense – the method for assessing the threats is based on the already used criteria within geosite/geomorphosite concept. The second level of threat assessment corresponds to the geoconservation in broader sense and here, it is represented by Risk Assessment Matrix which assess the threats within wider area. Using both approaches provides a complex view on the threats to geodiversity and geoheritage in a study area and complement each other. As a case study, we identified and assessed threats, risks and possible conflicts of interest in an area situated in the outskirts of large city (Hády Hill in Brno, Czech Republic). Based on the evaluation, we proposed particular measures that could contribute to the balance of the different demands and more effective geoconservation management in the study area.
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Historical geology
Geopark
Geotourism
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The understanding of the relationships between abiotic components and these with the natural system, especially in coastal areas and densely occupied areas, such as urban agglomerations, has been important to support policies of conservation, preservation, and sustainable regional development. In this sense, the aim of this study was to carry out an assessment on a regional scale of the geodiversity of the Urban Agglomeration of the South (AUSul), the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and its constituent municipalities, through a geodiversity index and the occurrence and distribution of its elements in the region. To construct the index, the abiotic elements considered most relevant for the region’s characteristics and the availability of data approximately compatible with the 1:250,000 scale was qualitatively defined. Subsequently, they were treated with methods of map algebra, resulting in the maps of the sub-indices related to geology, topography and geomorphology, hydrography and soils per municipality, and the geodiversity index of each municipality and the region. The results indicate the municipalities located on the Sul-Rio-Grandense Plateau and at the interface with the Coastal Plain with the highest indexes, being influenced by the greatest diversity of geological units, relief types, altimetric variations, and hydrographic features. Despite the significant occurrence of large wetland areas in the Coastal Plain municipalities, their indices were the lowest. The study proved to be useful for the understanding of the geodiversity of the AUSul, pointing out areas for studies at larger scales and macro-zoning, in addition to the need for complementation with methods that incorporate subjective characteristics of geodiversity.
Geodiversity
Urban agglomeration
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Nature is a complex structure of physical, chemical and biological aspects, which combined can form landscapes with high scenic value, especially in protected areas. Such landscapes attract tourists engaged in different activities, to seek knowledge, contact, interaction or interpretation of nature. Considering that the tourist attractions can have a key content that motivates the visitation, this study aims to analyze the existing attractions in the National Parks and State Parks of the Brazilian states of Parana (South Region) and Pernambuco (Northeast Region) and quantify the atractive a classification of content associated with geodiversity, biodiversity and historical and cultural aspects. Data were utilized from the Philips National Parks Guide (2003), and the attractions were separated in the categories listed above. The methodology also encompassed visits to some of the Protected Areas, bibliographic surveys on tourism in natural areas, geodiversity and geotourism. It is concluded that geodiversity is the most common group of elements presented in the analyzed protected areas, with the exception of the State Parks of Pernambuco.
Geodiversity
Geotourism
Natural heritage
Tourist attraction
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Abstract Secondary geodiversity (represented by anthropogenic landforms, which can be considered a significant part of geoheritage of certain area) can be seen as an important resource for geotourism and geoeducational activities within urban areas. Brno city (Czech Republic) is rich in these landforms as well as numerous urban areas. Some of them (especially old quarries and underground spaces) are already used for recreation, tourism and leisure or they serve as excursion localities for the university students, some of them are unique from the geoscience point of view and they have also certain added values (historical, archaeological or ecological). However, in some cases, their potential is not fully recognised. The article describes the main anthropogenic landforms within Brno city and analyses their suitability for geotourism and geoeducational activities.
Geodiversity
Geotourism
Landform
Macedonian
Historical geology
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