Abstract. The Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), with an area of about 750 km2, is one of the largest protected areas in Portugal. Since its inauguration as a natural park in 1979, geological and geomorphological aspects have not been taken into consideration in its nature conservation policies. Over the last few years, this deficit has been compensated with an assessment of its geomorphological heritage. The assessment was made possible due to a research project on the geological heritage of the natural parks of north-eastern Portugal.The assessment method propagated herein proposes a clear definition of three types of geomorphosites: Single places, geomorphological areas or panoramic viewpoints. Further, it proposes as two-staged approach to assessment with inventory compilation followed by quantification of value. Inventory compilation, for example, involves the identification and qualitative assessment of potential geomorphosites and, therefore, the selection and characterization of geomorphosites. The quantification stage includes the numerical assessment of sites and their final ranking. The values are numerically assessed using selected criteria. The implementation of this approach in the MNP led to the identification of 154 potential geomorphosites, of which only 26 were selected after the qualitative assessment or characterisation process. The numerical assessment of the sites and their ranking allowed a final selection of 13 sites for public use.

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aiming to achieve a better world for the entire human population. In spite of the fact that human development is dependent on nature and its resources, the non-living (abiotic) natural resources and processes are persistently neglected in international and national policies that foster sustainable development. This paper reviews the geodiversity concept and makes the links with well-established concepts and strategies, namely the ones related with natural capital and ecosystem services, to demonstrate that the UN SDG can only be achieved if the elements and processes of geodiversity are definitely considered in the global agenda.

No abstract

Geodiversity is a recent concept that refers to the abiotic variety of nature. It is defined as the range of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, processes) and soil features, including their assemblages, relationships, properties, interpretation and systems. In this work, a method of quantitative assessment of geodiversity was applied to the Xingu drainage basin (Amazônia -Brazil). The method is based on the quantification and integration of abiotic features represented on thematic maps at scales ranging from 1:250,000 to 1:2,500,000, overlaid by a 1:25,000 systematic grid. In order to calculate the final geodiversity index, five partial numerical indices representing the main components of geodiversity were drawn compiled: geology, geomorphology, soil, palaeontology and mineral occurrences. The resulting Geodiversity Index map is presented in the form of five isoline classes. The objective of this method is to present such a mapping technique as a tool for environmental planning, particularly for the identification and definition of priority areas for conservation.

From the 1990s, geodiversity studies have been widely carried out in order to understand, describe and preserve the natural heritage of the abiotic environment. Geodiversity assessments have principally been conducted using geological (minerals, rocks and fossils), geomorphological (landforms and processes) and pedological variables. This concept has been widespread and consolidated in scientific circles, where early studies focused on methods that assessed the spatial variability of the geodiversity, with a particular focus on quantitative aspects. In this study, a geodiversity quantification methodology (Pereira et al. 2013) has been applied to the Xingu River basin (Amazônia, Brazil), which covers approximately 51 million hectares. This methodology is based on measuring and integrating abiotic elements, which are spatialised using thematic maps at scales varying between 1:250,000 and 1:1,000,000 and using a 1:25,000 systematic linkage grid. This methodology was adapted for the Amazonian environment by including parameters related to river channel patterns, as approximately 12.6 % of the area is a fluvial environment (channels and floodplains). After applying the methodology, geodiversity indices varying between 4 and 32 were obtained, and a geodiversity hot spot in the basin was identified in the region known as "Volta Grande do Xingu" (The Great Bend of the Xingu). The results of the study highlight the fragility of legal tools for environmental protection of the area, primarily those related to aspects of the physical environment. Although large portions of the basin are partially or fully protected (as indigenous lands and conservation units), the area with the greatest geodiversity is precisely the one which has fewer legal protection devices and is where the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant is being built.

The concept of geodiversity aggregates the abiotic elements of nature and promotes the geoconservation. The main objective of this work is to contribute to the upgrade of the method for the assessment and quantification of geodiversity proposed by . The method is based on the superposition of a regular grid of 12 × 12 km on different maps (lithology, geomorphology, soil, paleonthology, mineral and geological energy resources) at scales of 1:250,000 to 1:600,000. In addition to other upgrades, the water resources are regarded here as a new component to consider when quantifying geodiversity. The sum of these maps generated the quantitative Map of Geodiversity Indices and the Map of Geodiversity Assessment, ranging from very low to very high geodiversity. The analysis of the geodiversity map of the State of Ceará (Brazil) shows the applicability and advantage of this method, highlighting two regions with higher levels of geodiversity (Northwest and South) and another region with the lowest levels (Sertões Cearenses). The results also allowed the characterization of the State of Ceará concerning the individual components of the geodiversity, especially the water resources. Geodiversity indices and maps are comprehensive and user-friendly data in the territorial planning, considering the geodiversity either as a whole, or each of its components, especially the more sensitive such as fossil conservation, and water, mineral, and nonrenewable energy resources management.

No abstract

To explore the relationship between geodiversity and borders of natural protected areas, we studied the northern part of Jaén Province (southern Spain), where the southern sector of the Central Iberian Massif, the Betic Cordillera and the Guadalquivir foreland basin come together. Moreover, several natural protected areas (NPAs) are located here. To approach the topic, we defined the geodiversity index as the sum of partial indices: lithological, geomorphological, palaeontological, pedological, minerals, hydrology and geosites. This made it possible to derive a map of the geodiversity index and a map of geodiversity gradient. Analysis of their distribution shows that almost 80% of the territory has values of medium, high and very high geodiversity, but these zones are situated outside the borders of the NPAs. A similar study considering two biological indices (endangered species and biodiversity) shows a good correlation between the limits of NPAs and the higher values of these indices. Thus, an absence of correlation between the geodiversity index and biological indices is clearly detected. These results are not in agreement with the definition of NPAs in the current Spanish laws of nature conservation.