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Microbe-mineral interactions at a Portuguese geo-archaeological site
Published in Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez, The Conservation of Subterranean Cultural Heritage, 2014
A.Z. Miller, A. Dionisio, M.E. Lopes, M.J. Afonso, H.I. Chamine
The conservation of geological sites, including geomining and geoparks, has recently prompted scientific interest. The term geosite could be defined as geological and geomor-phological objects that have scientific, cultural/historical, aesthetic and/or social/economic importance for the comprehension of the Earth’s history (Reynard 2003). Geological her-itage studies may provide a factual basis to support national and international initiatives for protecting and conserving geosites. The Aveleiras mine is an old water mine, belonging to St. Martin of Tibães Monastery, near Braga, in the North of Portugal (Fig. 1), which through the last three centuries supplied the monastery until it was converted in a wolfram mine in 1940-62. This mining site has potential geological and cultural significance as remarked by its partial rehabilitation into a geosite and geo-mining museum, in a near future (Lopes 2012, Trigo et al. 2013). Moreover, it has particular geological and scientific value due to the presence of unusual mineral formations associated with microbial communities.
Geotourism and geoparks for sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation: Huanggang Dabieshan UNESCO Global Geopark, China
Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2022
Geotourism, as a subgroup of geology and tourism, which can be traced back to the seventeenth century (Ngwira, 2015), is related to geological sites and features that specifically focus on geomorphological sites and landscapes (Dowling, 2009a, 2010). This concept is dynamic and continues to be redefined and refined (Boley, 2009; Buckley, 2003; Coenraads & Koivula, 2007; Dowling, 2009b, 2010; Farsani et al., 2009; Hose, 1995; Joyce, 2006; Megerle & Megerle, 2002; Mitchell, 1989; Neto de Carvalho & Rodrigues, 2009; Robinson, 2009; Robinson & Roots, 2008; Stokes et al., 2003). Johnston (1991) identified the issues with sustainable tourism development through geotourism time. Buckley (2003) considered geotourism as not only a new market segment but also a ‘normative direction contributing to geoconservation and sustainable development’. Coenraads and Koivula (2007) considered geotourism as having the same objectives as ecotourism but focussed on explaining the beauty and origins of the Earth and all its landscapes, landforms, plants and animals. Boley (2009) indicated that the responsibility and mission of geotourism were to preserve the geographic character and attraction of the destination, which differentiated it from other forms of sustainable tourism. Overall, it aims to promote tourism to geosites and conserve geodiversity and provide an understanding of the Earth through appreciation and learning.
The ‘8Gs’—a blueprint for Geoheritage, Geoconservation, Geo-education and Geotourism
Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2019
Geoheritage is the heritage or legacy of geological features on the Earth and recognises important or significant features of the Earth via a process of identification–categorisation-and-evaluation, ultimately for their preservation for heritage, research, education and tourism. Once Earth features have been evaluated as to their significance, they can be classed as geosites or geoparks and secured through Geoconservation to protect significant sites through various land-use instrumentalities and laws. Thus, while Geoheritage involves identification of the value and significance of geological features, Geoconservation seeks their preservation through various land-use instrumentalities and laws (Brocx & Semeniuk, 2007). Also, there can be many levels of significance allocated to different sites of geoheritage significance—sites that are of the highest level of significance need the highest level of protection, e.g. they may be prohibited from use as sites for teaching, collections and geotours.
Geoheritage importance of stratigraphic type sections, type localities and reference sites—review, discussion and protocols for geoconservation
Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2019
M. Brocx, C. Brown, V. Semeniuk
Once given sites (and in this case types sections, type localities and references sites) are identified as significant, they can then be assigned to a category of geoconservation and management. Currently, there is a plethora of names for various types of sites for geoconservation used explicitly or implicitly in referring to sites of geoheritage significance and their geoconservation and management; these include, for example, geological site, geosite, Site of Geological Interest, SSSI, geotope, type section, type locality for paleontology, type locality for minerals, reference site, reference locality, geological monument, monument, geopark and World Heritage Site. Explicit examples include geological site, geosite, type sections, type locations (for fossils or minerals), and reference sites. Many sites are protected for their geological features although their conservation designation is explicitly not a ‘geoconservation’ site. For instance, some protected areas while encompassing geoconservation do not explicitly focus on geological features in the region (e.g. the Blue Mountains World Heritage Site is conserved for its biodiversity). In addition, definitions and terms for sites of geoconservation may vary in meaning from nation to nation (Brocx, 2008). Also, as noted earlier, some important geological sites that should be assigned geoconservation status are not explicitly protected (type stratigraphic sections, as a reference sites, are examples) and some type sections in WA are protected only because they occur in National Parks, Conservation Reserves or World Heritage Sites inscribed for other conservation reasons.