Living and Dying on Planet Earth: an Approach to the Values of Geodiversity

Abstract

Little or no Earth Science literacy is expressed in ignorance about the close relationships between geodiversity, life, wellbeing, and death. However, given the environmental changes, the exponential population growth, and the predatory exploitation of natural resources, it is necessary to make society aware of the importance of good management of the set of geosystem services that benefit humanity, as well as the conservation of the natural resources and processes that produce these recourses. How to make society aware of the importance of Earth Sciences, geodiversity, and the services they provide? The ordering of geosystem services, following the ecosystem services model, was an important step towards launching new approaches in the teaching and popularization of geosciences. Earlier, the Big Ideas, developed under the Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI), were also an important milestone to follow in the processes of teaching and popularization. Throughout this paper, topics and examples of renewable and non-renewable geologic resources and geologic processes recognized by all, but rarely understood, are suggested. Natural disasters and topics that relate to human well-being are highlighted. It is also proposed to use together the values of geodiversity identified in the scope of geosystem services and ESLI Big Ideas.

Global geodiversity components are not equally represented in UNESCO Global Geoparks

“…variability in slopes and elevation). Even though it misses genetic information about landforms, which is thought to be essential in geomorphological maps [ 60 , 61 ], the use of DEMs as a surrogate for geomorphology has proven successful at landscape-scale evaluations with geodiversity indices [ 9 , 62 ]. The MERIT DEM has a resolution of three arc-seconds, which is equal to approximately 90 m at the equator, and is based on a combination of multiple DEMs [ 55 ].…”

Tsunami Geotourism Potential in Aceh and Regional Government Efforts and Constraints in its Development

“…Geological diversity (Geodiversity) is defined as diversity or variation in geological structures and processes (Gray, 2014). The lack of earth education can be seen from the lack of knowledge about the close relationship between Geodiversity and living things on earth (Lima & Pereira, 2023). The interaction between biotic components (flora and fauna) and abiotic components (soil, water and air) plays a very important role in an ecosystem (Gordon & Barron, 2013).…”

Wartanian glacial sediments: insights into deglaciation of Polish Lowlands and Highlands border for geotourism

“…The erratic boulders described above already provide geoecosystem services such as: cognitive, educational, proenvironmental, cultural, conservational, recreational, signposting, and aesthetic (see Finzi et al 2021;da Silva et al 2022;Lima & Pereira 2023). There seem to be no contraindications to continuing to perform these functions in the future.…”