Geoheritage

Globally, most active tropical glacial landscapes are found at elevations above 4000 m. Nonetheless, the presence of paleoglacial landforms in low latitudes, especially those formed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), persists in different tropical regions. Chirripó National Park, in central-south Costa Rica, is one of these particular examples. The glacial and periglacial landscape in the park are located over 3000 m, with landforms such as arêtes, glacial cirques, moraines, till deposits, and glacial lakes. We performed an integrated approach for the geoheritage inventory and geotourism management, crossing geomorpho-logical and cultural information. A total of 14 geomorphosites were assessed and their management discussed. These geomorphosites achieved scientific scores between 0.5 (Valle Talari, Cerro Urán, and Cerro Terbi) and 0.88 (Cerro Chirripó and Los Crestones). The average scientific value of the geomorphosites is 0.75, since they are well preserved (0.75), rare (0.57) and representative (0.84) of the region's geomorphology. They also play an important role in the geographical history (0.62), as well as the significant use and management characteristics (0.8). Chirripó National Park has key importance both naturally and culturally for Costa Rica. Its geomorphosites assessment is of critical value for the Costa Rican Conservation Areas System in order to promote improved geotourism. Geoheritage mapping can offer more opportunities of transferring geoscience knowledge to a larger public and policy makers. Our study aims to improve and further the state of the art of tropical glacial geoheritage.

ABSTRAK
Kawasan Karst Biduk-biduk merupakan sisi Timur Kawasan Karst Sangkulirang- Mangkalihat. Di tempat ini tinggal masyarakat Dayak Lebo, dan masyarakat Bugis. Masyarakat Dayak Lebo tinggal di pegunungan dan masyarakat Bugis tinggal di pantai. Nama Biduk-biduk berasal dari bahasa Bugis yang berarti tempat yang banyak disinggahi oleh kapal-kapal nelayan. Potensi wisata geologi yang terdapat di kawasan kars ini terdiri dari beranekaragam komponen ekosistem karst, berupa eksokarst, indokarst dan perikars. Indokars terbaik dalam bentuk sistem sungai bawah tanah dan keluar sebagai mata air di Labuhan Cermin dan Labuhan Kelambu. Eksokarst terdapat dalam bentuk morfologi kars. Perikars dalam bentuk pantai, pesisir, hutan mangrove. Dalam 6 bulan terakhir, wisatawan yang mengunjungi mencapai 26.000 orang. Jumlah ini berpotensi bertambah. Penguatan kapasitas warga dalam geowisata ini akan memastikan nilai wisata komunitas dapat melampaui nilai pemanfaatan karst untuk kegiatan ekstraktif.
Kata kunci: Geopark, Kars Biduk-biduk, Geowisata

The preservation of geosites in the heritage framework is necessary at a time when urbanization, the exploitation of fossils and minerals are real threats to this irreversible heritage. This work is a contribution to the preservation and protection of dinosaur trace deposits by using Geographic Information Description for description and mapping of the study area and finally by the proposal of the models of development and preservation of these geosites

Due to the renewed interest for sites of geological interest, both in nature conservation and tourist sectors, numerous regional and national geosite inventories have been carried out in several countries during the last two decades. For this purpose, various assessment methods have been developed and published. The issue of the representation of the results of inventories-in particular, the mapping system, the question of updating data-remains open. Moreover, if in the field of nature conservation, practitioners are used to working with GIS, it is not the case in the tourist sector where data must be delivered to the users in open-access and easy-touse formats. This paper discusses what opportunities of web mapping methods and techniques there are in the domain of geoheritage assessment and promotion. A web mapping application in Google Maps application programming interface (API) framework is proposed to disseminate the results of geosite inventories carried out in Switzerland both at national and regional scales. The interest of the proposed application is discussed according to three main criteria: mapping interests and limitations, management purposes and interpretive issues.

In the West Sudetes (SW Poland), volcanic activity of Oligocene and Miocene age has left a suite of landforms of considerable geomorphological interest. Besides being relevant to the subject of volcanology, they illustrate how volcanism influences interplays with landscape development in the long-term. Three main geomorphological themes are explored: structural geomorphology of ancient volcanic terrain, volcanic remnants as markers of long-term denudation and hillslope evolution under periglacial conditions of the Pleistocene. Volcanic geosites are used as a resource for geotourism and promotion of geoheritage has intensified recently, with the region branding itself as the 'Land of Extinct Volcanoes'. Ten localities are evaluated as geomorphosites of significant educational potential, taking into account geomorphological values, added values as well as physical accessibility and information supply. Successful interpretation remains a key challenge in further geotourism development, and several associated practical issues are pointed out such as choice of terminology, uncertainties in scientific understanding and stand-alone attractiveness of geoheritage.

Marès is a soft rock, generally pale-coloured rock, composed mainly of bioclastic calcareous sandstone which ranges in age from the Late Miocene to the Quaternary, although it dates predominantly from the Pleistocene. This rock was traditionally the main material for construction on the island, with the Palma Cathedral being a classic example. There are numerous marès quarries on the eastern and southern coast of Majorca, some of which are very well exposed in the cliffs. The stone is quarried in large blocks which are later divided into smaller ones. This quarrying process creates deep, vertical quarry walls orientated, both parallel and perpendicular to the coast, which gives an excellent exposure of the rock and clear views of its internal structure. In 2006, the first inventory of geosites on the Balearic Islands was carried out with the aim of defining the geological and hydrogeological heritage in the region. Of the 35 geosites inventoried and catalogued on the island of Majorca, two of them are marès quarries: Estret des Temps on the Santanyi coast and Es Carnatge on the coast of Palma. Both are representative of Pleistocene aeolianites, with excellent exposure of the sets of cross-bedding, while the Estret des Temps quarry also contains noteworthy exposures of hoof prints of Myotragus balearicus, a small endemic goat which became extinct with the arrival of the first human inhabitants of the island, around 7,000 BC. In this study, we propose the inclusion of a new site in the geosites inventory, the Roman quarry of Es Molar de Cala Pi in Llucmajor, where an exceptional sequence of Late-Miocene beaches facies can be observed, including a coquina with large-scale and high-angle cross-bedding and anemone tubes at the base of the quarry. The sequence is crowned by a system of Pleistocene palaeodunes. Such exposure conditions and facies sedimentological variety, coupled with the representativeness of the record, make this quarry a unique site for the study of the Neogene and Quaternary on Majorca

O geopatrimónio inclui todos os elementos naturais abióticos (emersos ou submersos) que devem ser preservados devido ao seu valor patrimonial. O património hidrológico, pela sua enorme importância, não deve ser ignorado necessitando de mais investigação ao nível dos conceitos e da aplicação. Este capítulo pretende clarificar os conceitos relacionados com o geopatrimónio, o património hidrológico e o geoturismo, com vista a incentivar a sua pesquisa em ambientes rurais e urbanos. Só assim será possível caminhar na realização de um inventário do património hidrológico português.
O património hidrológico urbano tem vindo a suscitar o interesse dos investigadores em geopatrimónio e geoturismo, podendo oferecer roteiros turísticos urbanos que complementem outros valores abióticos e culturais procurados pelo crescente turismo nas cidades. Também a cidade de Lisboa possui interessante património hidrológico em vias de levantamento e publicação.

The concept of ’natural heritage’ has become increasingly significant with the threat of dwindling resources, environmental degradation and climatic change. As humanity’s impact on the condition of life on earth has become more prominent, a discernible shift in the relationship between western society and the environment has taken place. This is reflective of wider historical processes which reveal a constantly changing association between humanity’s definition and perception of what ’nature’ constitutes or what can be defined as ’natural’. From the ornate collections of specimens which formed the basis of a distinct concept of ’nature’ emerging during the Enlightenment, this definition and the wider relationship between humanity and natural history have reflected issues of identity, place and politics in the modern era.

This book examines this process and focuses on the ideas, values and agendas that have defined the representation and reception of the history of the natural world, including geology and palaeontology, within contemporary society and addresses how the heritage of natural history, whether through museums, parks, tourist sites or popular culture is used to shape social, political, cultural and moral identities. It will be of interest to scholars and practitioners within heritage studies, public history, ecology, environmental studies and geography.

Jeli district in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia, has many geological attractions with geoheritage values, including the beautiful geological landforms/landscapes, unique geological phenomena, and precious Earth materials. Systematic studies of geoheritage have been conducted in the district through some general phases including of inventory, characterization, classification, assessment, and evaluation in some potential geoheritage resources such as Gunung Reng (mogote hill), Jeli Hot Spring, Pergau Lake (dam), gold deposits in Kampung Kalai, Lata Janggut (cascade), Sungai Rual (river), Lata Renyok (waterfall), Lata Chenai (cascade), and Setir Cave complex. Detailed characterization and classification showed that potential geoheritage resources in Jeli district are based on landform/landscape features (geomorphological sites), such as river, waterfall, cascades, limestone hills and caves (speleolog-ical sites), and lake, and their distinctive rocks (petrological sites). Other features are the hot spring (hydrogeological site), the gold deposits (mineralogical site), and important structural features (structural sites). These geological sites range between small to medium scales. For the assessment, these resources have some geoheritage values such as scientific, educational, aesthetic, recreational, cultural, economic, and functional values, with the local to state levels of significance. Geoheritage evaluation was conducted in this area to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of its potential geoheritage resources as well as to propose some types of geoheritage conservation such as geosite and geomorphosite. All these sites should be conserved and developed, not only for research and education but also to support geotourism development in the state of Kelantan.

The geologic and geomorphological diversity of South Africa, the spectacular landscapes that result, and their internationally-important ecological and cultural/archaeological associations, all make the landscapes of South Africa prime sites for geoheritage and geotourism. To date, however, there has been little work to develop this potential. This chapter describes examples of sites where geoheritage and geotourism activities have been developed in South Africa, and how other scenic South African landscapes can enhance their geoheritage and geotourism potential.

Esta obra tiene como objetivo servir como marco de referencia básico acerca de los conceptos relacionados con los geoparques.

Incluye una descripción del Programa Internacional de Geociencias y Geoparques de la unesco así como el procedimiento para el desarrollo y designación de un Geoparque Mundial. También incorpora una breve descripción de las experiencias adquiridas en el proceso, pionero en México, derivadas de la formulación del Geoparque Mundial unesco Mixteca Alta, uno de los dos Geoparques Mundiales mexicanos reconocidos por ese organismo y que forma parte de la Red Global de Geoparques.

Este documento es resultado del proyecto “Geopatrimonio y Geoparques; estrategias para la enseñanza y divulgación de las Ciencias de la Tierra”, que contó con el financiamiento del Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos para la Innovación y Mejoramiento de la Enseñanza (papime) de la Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico (dgapa) de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Dado el creciente interés en el tema en nuestro país, este texto aspira a ser de utilidad para grupos interesados en desarrollar proyectos de Geoparque y promover la educación ambiental y el geoturismo como una estrategia de desarrollo territorial basada en la apreciación de los valores de la geodiversidad, el patrimonio geológico y el geopatrimonio.

Geosites, or sites of geological and geomorphological interest, are not restricted to rural, open or outdoor areas. Valuable geoheritage examples can be found as well in urban spaces. An urban geosite can be defined simply as a site of geological or geomorphological interest within a city and may be natural, derived from geological processes or man-made structures where representative types of rocks were used for their construction. They may also represent a place of interest associated with representative geological and geomorphological processes related to the development of the urban area itself. In this paper, three urban geosites within Mexico City are described: an ecological reserve, an emblematic historical building in the old centre of the city and an archaeological area. All sites show the relation between geologygeomorphology and society in this urban space. The paper aims to promote the geological and geomorphological heritage within cities and the knowledge of earth sciences among members of the general and specialized public.

tidak semua daya tarik wisata alam cocok dengan pola pengembangan pariwisata masal, yaitu pariwisata yang berusaha mendatangkan wisatawan sebanyak-banyaknya. Karena tinggi rendahnya daya dukung lingkungan akan sangat tergantung pada topografi medan dan bertumpu pada tata geologinya. Seperti telah disinggung diatas bahwa budaya manusia bersumber pada hukum alam dan bermuara pada kinerja binaanya yang keseluruhanya tidak lepas dari pengaruh sifat dan gejala alam yang ada di bumi, maka disiplin ilmu pengetahuan geologi sebagai sumber daya kepariwisataan perlu sekali digunakan untuk menghasilkan daya tarik wisata geologi yang berkelanjutan.

Since the initial recognition and definition in the early 1990s of geotourism in the UK by a few academic geologists, and its emergence in Europe as a niche form of sustainable tourism, new stakeholders have become involved; the latter's background is often commercial and lacking in any significant academic or scientific engagement. Consequently, the geosite/geomorphosite management and promotional approaches they adopt are usually founded on practitioner and supply side led approaches rather than the geoconservation requirements of geosites/geomorphosites and the needs and expectations of their geotourists. This is probably because the new stakeholders have limited knowledge and understanding of the relevance of the history, development and philosophy of landscape conservation and promotion (that is geohistory), and the lessons that can be gleaned from such considerations in managing and promoting geosites. This paper seeks to redress this situation by providing an outline of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of geotourism and approaches to its sustainable management. It especially examines and defines, underpinned by UK examples, three key interrelated aspects (the '3G's') of modern geotourism: geoconservation, geohistory and geo-interpretation. It further updates a prior published geohistorical model and provides a new summary topology and a geotourism chronosequence. Finally, it addresses, within the framework of the new definition and its approach, some of the issues generated by the development of geoparks in Europe in the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Solurile sunt reprezentate de cernisoluri sub 200 m d.MN, luvisoluri la peste 200 m d.MN, pe creste, platouri și reversuri de cuestă, cu prezența faeoziomurilor la diverse niveluri (Băcăuanu și al., 1980), unde nu se pot dezvolta solurile tipice (în special în Podișul Sucevei). Pe versanții înclinați, și în special pe cei frunte de cuestă cu alunecări de teren, se dezvoltă regosoluri sau cambisoluri, în timp ce luncile sunt caracterizate de soluri aluvionare și cernisoluri. Topografia regiuni este caracterizată de extinderea mare a dealurilor asimetrice (cueste) și a luncilor largi (Niculiță, 2011, 2012; Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017). Altitudinea absolută variază de la 6 m d.MN (în partea de sud a Podișului, pe lunca Prutului) la 794 m d.MN, în partea de nord-vest a Podișului Moldovei, de-a lungul contactului cu zona muntoasă carpatică. Altitudinea medie a Podișul Moldovei este de 199 m. La nivel de subunitate, altitudinile variază după cum urmează: Podișul Sucevei-200-794 m d.MN, Dealurile Jijiei-30-250 m a.s.l., Podișul Central Moldovenesc, Colinele Tutovei și Dealurile Fălciu-70-550 m d.MN, și Podișul Covurlui-6-250 m d.MN. Pentru unitățile deluroase amplitudinea altitudinii este de obicei sub 200 m. Pentru dealurile susținute de straturi litologice consolidate (calcar și gresie), culmile de tip platou sunt bine dezvoltate. De obicei, datorită structurii monoclinice cu orientare VVS-EEN, versanții nordici și vestici, ca frunți de cuestă au valori de pantă cuprinse între 5° și 32°, pe când cei sudici și estici, ca reversuri de cuestă au pante cuprinse între 1° și 5°. Panta medie a întregii zone a Podișului Moldovei este de 4,7°. Versanții frunte de cuestă sunt caracterizați prin lungimi sub 1 km, în timp ce versanții revers de cuestă au lungimi între 1 și 5 km. Predomină curburile planare pentru reversuri și mixte (concaveconvexe) pentru frunțile de cuestă (Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017). Clima Podișului Moldovei este temperat-continentală, cu veri calde și uscate și ierni reci. Cantitățile medii anuale de precipitații scad de la 640 mm, în partea de nord, la 480 mm, în cea sudică (Croitoru și Minea, 2015; Niculiță, 2020a). Aceste cantități se înregistrează în special în sezoanele de vară și primăvară (20-45 % din cantitatea anuală pentru fiecare sezon). Ninsoarea are loc în fiecare an, din noiembrie până în martie (Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017). Acoperirea/utilizarea terenului se prezintă astfel: (i) pădurile acoperă 14 % (după datele Corine Land Cover, 2006; Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017) din suprafață, fiind situate fie pe creste și platouri (păduri naturale), fie pe pante abrupte ale frunților de cuestă (majoritatea, zone reîmpădurite), (ii) terenurile agricole acoperă 50% din întreaga zonă a Podișului Moldovei (în special pe reversurile de cuestă și pe albiile majore drenate, dar apar și pe versanții frunților de cuestă), (iii) pășunile acoperă 12% (majoritar răspândite pe frunțile de cuestă și pe albiile majore inundabile), (iv) zonele construite (urbane și rurale) acoperă aproximativ 10 % din aria studiată, orașele fiind situate pe zonele inundabile și versanți, în timp ce zonele rurale sunt situate fie pe versanți, fie pe albii majore. Factorii pregătitori acționează atât la scară regională, cât și locală și influențează spațialitatea și temporalitatea alunecărilor de teren (Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017). Ei au rolul de a induce un echilibru instabil prin modificări ale geometriei pantei sau crearea de hotspoturi de umiditate prin modificări în drenajul subteran. Printre acești factori, cei mai importanți sunt reprezentați de succesiunile anilor ploioși (Niculiță 2020a,b), de schimbările de utilizare a terenului și prezența unor alunecări de teren relicte. Analizând documentele istorice din ultimii 170 de ani, Pujină și Ioniță (1996) au ajuns la concluzia că noi alunecări de teren, în general, apar o dată la 40 de ani, reactivările alunecărilor de teren existente având o recurență de 15 ani. Această periodizare este strâns legată de o serie de cel puțin doi ani cu precipitații mai mari pe parcursul întregului an, cum ar fi intervalul 1969-1973 (Pujină, 2008). Influența schimbărilor de utilizare a terenurilor asupra proceselor de deplasare în masă este dată de: lipsa măsurilor agrotehnice, defrișările pantelor și mai ales a alunecărilor de teren latente, fără alte intervenții majore (Mihai și al., 2014), gestionarea deficitară a pădurilor (Rotaru și al., 2007), îndepărtarea vegetației, excavarea bazei pantei. Alți factori, cu influență locală în pregătirea deplasărilor de teren, sunt următorii: modificările geometriei pantei și a drenajului datorate intervențiilor antropice, apariția și distribuția izvoarelor și lacurilor nepermanente (Mărgărint și Niculiță, 2017).

Geotourism consists of an activity that is located at the interface of nature tourism and cultural tourism, as it can develop in both natural and rural environments as well as in urban environments, disclosuring and promoting geodiversity and its geoheritage in a strict sense or its relationship with civilizations and cultures, in a lato sense. It consists of the addition of geodiversity and geoheritage to the tourist activity, focused on places of geotourism interest, benefiting the local communities and giving a new tourist experience to the visitors.
This thesis aims to fill a gap regarding the mapping, with subsequent disclosure, of the situ geodiversity in situ, geoheritage and geodiversity ex situ associated with the Cultural Heritage of João Pessoa (PB) and surroundings, through the union of the natural aspects, especially the abiotic ones to cultural aspects. In order to promote the dissemination of the valued abiotic environment and the Cultural Heritage of the area, products were developed, of which the geotouristic map with specific itineraries is highlighted, divided into three parts (Historic Center, Urban Coast and South Coast), also in the form of folders and three geointerpretative panels in emblematic places of geoturistic interest distributed in each one of these parts.
After an extensive collection of geoscientific information about the Paraíba Basin and a detailed analysis of historical documents about the Parahyba Capitany and its Cultural Heritage, 48 geotouristic interest locals were selected in the area, of which 35 were associated with the abiotic environment (Geodiversity and Geoheritage) and 13 to the Cultural Heritage. Initially, these locals were inventaried, by completing a record, in which aesthetic, scientific, cultural, functional (ecological) and economic values played a fundamental role.
Subsequently, the geotouristic interest locals associated with the abiotic environment were evaluated from a semiquantitative point of view, through a methodology proposed in this work, where aesthetic, cultural, scientific, functional (ecological) and use values were considered, where those with the highest geotouristic potentials were inserted in the route, resulting in 24 geotourism interest locals.
Considering the geoutourism activity, although sustainable, can cause damages where it is carried out, a semiquantitative evaluation of the ‘Imminent Risk Index’ of the geotourism sites associated to the abiotic environment was calculated, using as an indicator the ‘Need for Protection’ of each local, from 10 weighted parameters.
Concomitant with the evaluations carried out, it was analyzed the perception that travelers who were in the Parahyba Capitany during the colonial period had about the physical environment that was primordial for the consolidation and urban expansion of the capital, resulting in its cultural landscape in which the privileged nature, associated to the important cultural heritage, resulted in the appropriation of this coastal environment, with the consequent urban evolution dating from the sixteenth century. For this, it was used a large iconographic and textual documentation elaborated during the period, with the role of adding to the geotouristic route this information.
In this perspective, it is concluded that the area of the present thesis has potential for the insertion of the geotourism activity, since it presents undeniable historical and geoscientific importance, as, respectively João Pessoa is the fourth oldest city in the country and the Paraíba Basin was the last to detach itself from the African continent when the southern portion of the megacontinent Pangeia, denominated Gondwana, fragmented. In addition, a new meaning could be attributed to the landscape, ranging from the aesthetic-artistic to the functional-economic, and it was intentional to interlace the geoheritage elements to the cultural practices that forged the city and the identity of the people who settled on it, as well as interlace the geoheritage to the tourism in João Pessoa, so that another motivation awakens the interest of the tourists, now turned to the bias of the lithosphere and hydrosphere, allied to the local centennial culture.

This paper takes off from the point that geoparks and land are intertwined, and that land use planning can serve as a means to enable effective conservation and development of geoparks. The focus lies on how existing land use related statutes could be put to use to capture the components and elements that make up a geopark, particularly in the case of Langkawi Geopark. Given that there are more than 120 statutes that can be linked to the various aspects and components that make up a geopark, this article has taken the liberty to only focus on a few statutes rather than all that has been identified. This is intentional so as to enable detailed discussion regarding where components that make up a geopark can converge in land use planning aspects, also about processes and procedures that are embodied in existing statutes.

Geomorfológico e Geoconservação, realizado na Universidade do Minho, em Guimarães, Portugal, pretende promover a pesquisa luso-brasileira em torno do Património Geomorfológico, componente maior do Geopatrimónio, mas abrindo espaço também para a reflexão sobre as outras formas de Geopatrimónio, suas bases conceptuais, estratégias de geoconservação e formas de promoção dos seus valores e potencialidades junto da sociedade. Assim, abrimos espaço à discussão, centrada nos seguintes temas:-Aspetos teóricos Neste sentido, este livro reúne as contribuições de investigadores dos dois lados do oceano Atlântico, discutindo problemáticas comuns e procurando soluções para o desenvolvimento e a promoção do conhecimento científico em torno do geopatrimónio e da geoconservação e sua promoção.

Jeli is a district in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia, which blessed with many beautiful geological landforms/landscapes, unique geological phenomena and precious earth materials. They are potential geological heritage of the area. Identification, mapping, and description have been conducted to establish the new inventory of geoheritage sites within the district. Some potential geoheritage sites of Jeli district have been inventoried such as Gunung Reng (mogote hill), Jeli Hot Spring, Pergau Lake (dam), gold deposits in Kampung Kalai, Lata Janggut (cascade), Sungai Rual (river), Lata Renyok (waterfall), Lata Chenai (cascade) and Setir Cave complex. All these spots should be conserved and developed to maintain and protect natural and geological attractions while supporting the geotourism development in the state of Kelantan.

Geoheritage is commonly defined as unique components of abiotic nature or as a part of cultural heritage stemming from the influence of rocks, minerals, water or landforms on the development and lifestyle of a human (Brocx, Semeniuk 007). Apart from natural geological objects, geoheritage also encompasses mining heritage, stone in construction and architecture, cultural landscape, symbolism of precious stones, minerals in medicine, geological processes in mythology, the history of Earth sciences, etc. (Tab). In situ and ex situ geoheritage is protected (geoconservation), available for visiting (geotourism), and employed in didactics (geoeducation). Along with the concept of geoparks, UNESCO promotes geoheritage in the form of geo-products, marking the commercial direction in which to relay knowledge regarding geosciences (Dryglas, Miśkiewicz, 0). In global geoparks it is a part of regional identity and sustainable development, and constitutes an element of education (Tab.). Ethnogeology, a research discipline, has been proposed for description and research of relations between a man and abiotic nature (Kamen-Kaye 975). Such geological conditioning of cultural development is the subject of numerous, yet dispersed, scientific and popular science works. The paper presents a review and evaluation of the usefulness of such geo-cultural aspects in didactics within geoparks and other geotouristic attractions.

Geoheritage is an important part of natural heritage which must be preserved for the benefit of future generations. Many geological elements are of special interest for science, education or tourism. These are the subjects of research in geoconservation, a discipline recently incorporated to the Earth sciences. This booklet attempts to be an easy reference document for those new to the field of geoconservation, as well as for those ready to delve deeper. It provides the basic concepts needed to understand the significance of geological heritage and geodiversity, as well as their assessment and proper management for sustainable use.

Madagascar natural heritage is known primarily for its outstanding biodiversity that are mainly protected by diverse natural conservation programs, which are predominantly restricted to the protection  of  fauna  and  flora.  Recently,  many  countries  have  adopted  new  conservation strategies,  which  extended  the  biodiversity  conservation  to  the  conservation  of  geotopes (including  geosites,  paleosites  and  geomorphosites)  currently  known  as  geoconservation. Protected areas already  having  a well-developed legal  and  regulatory  frameworkis the best mechanism to jumpstart geoconservation. However, merely knowing about geconservation and geosites did not of itself guarantee that local governments would do anything about them. The potentiality of geoheritage was highlighted by field works in several National Parks and Special Reserves such as the Ankarana and Montagne d’Ambre in the north, the Isalo National Park and the marine Nosy Ve National Park in the south. Despite the lack of strong geoconservation programs and weak protection of natural heritage, spectacular landscapes and other types of magnificent  geotopes  are  unintentionally  protected  within  the  National  Parks.  Identified geosites could be used to promote awareness, local educational and scientific programs as well as  to  build  various special geosites for tourism purposes.This work highlights  the need for
intensive  systematic  inventory  and  evaluation  of  geotopes  within  the  National Parks..Procedures are mainly based on typology followed by the identification and selection of geotopes.. Moreover, the action plans will ensure the protection of environment and to promote conservation on natural resources within and around Madagascar`s protected areas.

Este artigo propõe uma avaliação qualitativa e
quantitativa do valor geopatrimonial de nascentes cársicas
localizadas no bordo do Maciço Calcário Estremenho
(MCE). Primeiro, identificaram-se as nascentes cársicas
perenes principais, sendo a sua inventariação e classificação,
relativa aos tipos de valores patrimoniais associados,
realizada através do preenchimento de fichas-inventário
efectuadas no campo para as exsurgências dos
rios Alviela, Almonda, Lis, Alcoa, Baça, Lena, Maior e
ribeira de Alcobertas. Para avaliar o seu potencial geopatrimonial
foram utilizados parâmetros de avaliação do
seu valor científico (raridade, representatividade, integridade
e vulnerabilidade), bem como de valores adicionais
que acrescentam importância às nascentes cársicas
consideradas (histórico-culturais, económico-sociais,
estéticos e ecológicos). Por fim, procedeu-se à apresentação
de propostas de geoconservação, valorização e
promoção sustentável das nascentes.

The Mixteca Altahas some of the most important traces of Mesoamerican culture and is characterized by a variety of conspicuous erosional features strongly related to traditional farming practices carried out for more than 3500 years. These features represent a valuable geoheritage that can show the relationship between geology and society and promote the knowledge of earth sciences among members of the general and specialized public. These erosional features include gullies, badlands, erosive cirques derived from mass-wasting processes, alluvial deposits, palaeosols, and water and sediment traps used for farming purposes (locally known as lamabordos). Other geosites include examples of intrusive magmatic dikes and spheroidal weathering. The identification of these geosites leads to the proposal of three geotrails; these represent the basis for geotourism in the study area, as an alternative for local economic development.