Promoting Geodiversity Education by Using EarthCaching in National Geoparks

Zecha, Stefanie; Regelous, Anette

doi:10.1007/s12371-018-0280-5

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Raising adequate awareness of geoheritage is a persistent challenge and various ways are currently explored, from enhancing visitors' experience via technology-based means of re-creating geological evolution, through increasing engagement while visiting geosites (e.g. storytelling, guided tours, geocaching, quests) (Cayla and Martin 2018;Macadam 2018;Pica et al 2018;Zecha and Regelous 2018), to exploration of multiple links between geology, landforms and culture (Panizza and Piacente 2009;Gordon 2018a;Reynard and Giusti 2018). The latter is based on the premise that teaching and learning are more effective if 'unknown' is related to 'known', and in geo-education, it is assumed that various aspects of cultural heritage are more familiar and better comprehended by the general public than the history of the Earth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Wine Culture and Geoheritage—Missing Opportunities at European UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in UNESCO Global Geoparks? A Survey of Web-Based Resources

Pijet-Migoń

Migoń

2021

Geoheritage

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Vine cultivation is strongly dependent on local terrain conditions, including geology, landforms and soils. This offers an opportunity to develop interpretation and geo-education that would holistically relate wine culture to abiotic environment. Wine-related cultural landscapes inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and those UNESCO Global Geoparks, where wine production is an important economic activity or leaves a distinctive imprint on the landscape, are particularly suited to emphasize local geoheritage in this specific context. We analyzed official web-based resources of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, UNESCO Global Geoparks programme, individual World Heritage properties and individual global geoparks to evaluate whether causal relationships between geoheritage, geodiversity and wine culture are indicated at all, and if so, how they are presented and linked to geotourism and geo-education. Our analysis involved 14 World Heritage properties and 38 global geoparks, all located in Europe. General observation is that given web-based information alone, the theme is insufficiently explored and poorly communicated to the public, although more recent nomination dossiers for World Heritage contain extensive presentations of abiotic environment. These are, however, not very likely to be consulted by the general public. In global geoparks, wine culture is mainly presented as a sustainable local activity, with local wine as one of brand products, whereas geoheritage context is seldom considered in depth. Growing interest in wine tourism and increasing appreciation of the value of cultural landscapes provide a good background to develop geo-interpretation and thereby to raise awareness of geoheritage matters.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Wine Culture and Geoheritage—Missing Opportunities at European UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in UNESCO Global Geoparks? A Survey of Web-Based Resources

Pijet-Migoń

Migoń

2021

Geoheritage

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“…A more extensive use of rock outcrops for informal and formal education would be facilitated by the development of educational products such as virtual geological tours, heritage e-trails, earth caching and apps that are among the main teaching methods in many European geoparks (Zecha and Regelous 2018). For university education on geoheritage, innovative tools such as a digital learning platform can be used (Reynard et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It could be tapped by establishing a Geopark that would offer an opportunity for the development of geotourism. Beyond doubt, geoparks are the most suitable areas for the development of the educational function (Zecha and Regelous 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoeducational Value of Quarries Located Within the Małopolska Vistula River Gap (E Poland)

2019

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Formal and non-formal outdoor learning or field education is the most effective form of interpretation and promotion of geoheritage. Quarries make it possible to look back at the geological past of our planet, and, in many regions, they are the only places where we can observe the exposed bedrock. In E Poland, a considerable number of quarries are located within the area of the Małopolska Vistula River Gap. Herein, Upper Cretaceous, Palaeocene and Miocene marine rocks and Pleistocene sediments of varying origin were quarried. The location of quarries in the proximity of larger and smaller towns enables organising short school trips and conducting geography field classes. What is more, the importance of the town of Kazimierz Dolny, a popular tourist destination located in the northern part of the study area, provides opportunity for enriching the existing "traditional" tourism with offers of geotourism. In the study, the geoeducational value of 53 quarries was assessed by means of a method developed by the authors. This takes into account 20 criteria belonging to four groups of values (scientific, educational, tourist and functional). Additionally, significance was assessed from the perspective of three different audience groups (pupils, university students and non-specific tourists). The assessment made it possible to identify the spatial variation of the geoeducational potential of the quarries, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Measures were also identified to be taken in the future in order to increase the currently limited use of the quarries for educational purposes.

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“…In this context, fostering the geological and geomorphological education is crucial to increase the awareness regarding the importance of geoheritage. In fact, if people understand the value of geoheritage and geodiversity they are more prone to preserve them [11,12]. Given the scant literacy on Earth Sciences [13], interpretation, as well as education, are fundamental tools to raise awareness about the need for geoheritage management and conservation [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Geoheritage Awareness through Non-Formal Learning

2023

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Non-formal learning can have a crucial role in increasing citizens’ literacy to geoscience providing the opportunity to raise the public profile of geology and geomorphology. Starting from these remarks, the project presented here is one of the first attempts, at national level, aimed at achieving the territorial upgrading based on geoheritage enhancement. The project started thanks to a bottom-up input and involved the collaboration between scholars and local administrations and stakeholders for the valorization of a fluvial area within the Municipality of Castellarano (Emilia Apennines, Northern Italy). To achieve this aim of non-formal learning activities, based on the interpretation of the geoheritage, have been implemented. In fact, the investigated area includes valuable geological and geomorphological features which have been used, in the frame of the project here presented, to promote local geodiversity and geotourism. In particular, three geosites of regional significance were considered for the creation of EarthCaches, interpretative panels and guided excursions. Interpretative contents were designed to be educational, providing accurate but non-technical explanations. Attention was given in including illustrations playing an important role in the learning process. The results revealed that the implemented activities positively contribute to raising public awareness on the value of geoheritage.

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Promoting Geodiversity Education by Using EarthCaching in National Geoparks

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

Linking Wine Culture and Geoheritage—Missing Opportunities at European UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in UNESCO Global Geoparks? A Survey of Web-Based Resources

Linking Wine Culture and Geoheritage—Missing Opportunities at European UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in UNESCO Global Geoparks? A Survey of Web-Based Resources

Geoeducational Value of Quarries Located Within the Małopolska Vistula River Gap (E Poland)

Increasing Geoheritage Awareness through Non-Formal Learning

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