geoconservation

Geoconservation is the protection, preservation, and responsible management of geological heritage—rocks, fossils, landforms, and processes—so that they retain scientific, educational, cultural, and aesthetic values for present and future generations. It encompasses documenting and safeguarding geosites, conserving geodiversity within landscapes, and promoting the sustainable use of geological resources. Geoconservation recognizes that Earth’s geological record and its landscapes hold valuable information about history, tectonics, climate, natural hazards, and resource potential.

Practices include inventories of geosites, legal protection for significant sites, and development of management plans; monitoring for deterioration; restricting damaging activities and extractive uses; rehabilitation of degraded areas; and promoting public access through education and geotourism. It also involves preserving fossil and mineral collections and ensuring responsible collecting. Successful geoconservation depends on engaging landowners, scientists, policymakers, local communities, museums, and educators.

Geoconservation is often pursued through networks such as UNESCO Global Geoparks, national protected-area systems, and regional geosite networks. These efforts aim to conserve geological heritage while supporting research, education, and sustainable development. Geoconservation complements biodiversity and cultural heritage protection and is increasingly integrated into land-use planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience strategies.

Challenges include limited funding, competing land uses, urban development, extractive pressures, and uneven data availability. Effective geoconservation requires clear criteria for site selection, transparent governance, long-term monitoring, and ongoing engagement with communities and stakeholders. Education and public outreach are essential to cultivate appreciation for geoscience and to build broad support for protection.