International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks最新文献

{"title":"Identification of geodiversity in Kalimpong District, India: A geospatial assessment using geodiversity index and multi-criterion decision analysis approach","authors":"Alok Sarkar ,&nbsp;Sarfaraz Alam ,&nbsp;Prasanya Sarkar ,&nbsp;Pulak Barman ,&nbsp;Shasanka Kumar Gayen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evaluation of geodiversity assessment is essential for preserving geoheritage, enhancing sustainable geotourism, and supporting conservation efforts in ecologically fragile regions. This research aims to analyse and explore the geodiversity of Kalimpong District, India, utilising a comprehensive geospatial analysis to identify areas of major geological importance for strategic planning for geotourism. This study conducts a thorough geospatial evaluation of geodiversity in India's Kalimpong District using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the geodiversity index. Analysing diverse geospatial datasets, including energy of relief diversity, relief fragmentation diversity, geological diversity, drainage density diversity, topography roughness index, trekking routes diversity, waterfalls, lakes diversity, and soil diversity, it systematically characterizes the district's geodiversity. The analytical hierarchy process has been used to determine the main criterion's weight. We also grade the sub-criterion rank supplied by Zwoliński. The geodiversity index identifies areas with geodiversity potential. The geodiversity index aids in identifying and categorizing geodiversity zones into five levels: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The findings depict a varied landscape abundant in geological features, with distinct zones reflecting differing levels of geological richness. Notably, the presence of very high geodiversity zones around Neora Valley National Park highlights rugged terrains and dense forests. These zones not only allure tourists but also safeguard valuable geoheritage. This study accentuates the Kalimpong District's potential for geotourism development and stresses the significance of conservation endeavors to preserve its geological diversity. Leveraging its unique geological attributes, the district can establish sustainable geotourism destinations, fostering economic growth, cultural enrichment, and environmental preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 372-387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The canyon of Haidamatskyi Iar in the village of Busha: Geotourism assessment","authors":"Yulian Braychevskyy ,&nbsp;Volodymyr Korinnyi ,&nbsp;Olga Kovtoniuk ,&nbsp;Nataliia Pohorilchuk","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this work was to quantitatively assess the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon as a geotourism site, draw attention to geotourism development outside of the Carpathian Mountains region in Ukraine, and further contribute to the assessment methods choice and application debate. We based our analysis on field observations and combined three evaluation algorithms, namely the Kubalikova's method, the geosite assessment model, and the Brilha method. For each algorithm, we presented results as a percentage of the maximum for easier comparison. Our assessment concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon received rather high scores with all three approaches (86.11% with the Kubalikova's method, 76.88% with Brilha's method, and 62.96% with the geosite assessment model), revealing its strong potential as a geological and geomorphological research and education site. Poor tourist infrastructure (due to the area's peripheral location) and lack of specialized promotional products highlighting geoeducational attractions of the area explained lower scores by the geosite assessment model. Overall, we concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon was a unique geomorphosite of regional and even national significance. It displayed a wide range of geological features, especially those related to weathering, fluvial, and Aeolian erosion. Its location next to a historical and cultural destination (the village of Busha) made it valuable for geotourism promotion. In the wider context of similar geoattractions in Central and Eastern Europe, our analysis demonstrated the benefits of choosing methods, which were previously applied to comparable geosites. Variation in assessment scores confirmed better reliability of simultaneous application of several assessment methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 360-371"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of communication tools in urban green space protection: A social innovation perspective from Karaj, Iran","authors":"Neda Gholikhani Farahani,&nbsp;Jamal Farajollah Hosseini,&nbsp;Mehdi Mirdamadi,&nbsp;Maryam Omidi Najafabadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urbanization and population growth present significant challenges to environmental sustainability, necessitating the effective management and protection of urban green spaces. Communication tools and social innovation play a vital role in protecting urban green spaces and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. This study analyzed the effectiveness of various communication methods in promoting urban green space protection in Karaj, Iran. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 135 participants with expertise in green space management. The results showed that about 69.63% of respondents viewed the current status of urban green space protection as neutral to very unfavorable. The results revealed that social media was the most effective communication tool for enhancing awareness and engagement, followed closely by social network. Other methods, such as campaign activities and traditional media, also contributed positively, although to a lesser extent. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between these communication tools and their effectiveness, confirming that social media and social network significantly influenced urban green space protection. These results highlight the importance of improving communication strategies and encourage further research to explore their implications in different urban contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 350-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploration of mining heritage and evaluation of mining tourism potential in the La Ferrería village, mining territory of the municipality of Amagá, in the northwestern Colombian Andes","authors":"Luis Hernán Sánchez-Arredondo,&nbsp;Andrés López-Gómez,&nbsp;Sergio Alejandro Garavito-Higuera","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of mining activity in the northwestern Andes of Colombia is evident in the creation and development of various settlements, such as La Ferrería village in the municipality of Amagá, in the formation of the working-class culture, and in the shaping of the region's natural and social structures. This study explored the potential for mining tourism in La Ferrería, as a strategy to diversify the local economy and preserve mining heritage. Through surveys of local communities, interviews, and the analysis of historical documents, information was gathered regarding community perceptions, the condition of mining heritage, and opportunities for mining tourism development as a specialized form of geotourism for the region. The results indicate significant potential for mining tourism development, but challenges related to heritage conservation, infrastructure, and training were also identified. It is concluded that mining tourism can be an effective tool for the economic and social revitalization of the southwestern Antioquia region, specifically La Ferrería village, provided that an integrated management plan is implemented that involves the local community and addresses environmental and social challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 274-289"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tourism intelligence in the Cabo Ortegal UNESCO Global Geopark: Case of San Andrés de Teixido","authors":"Sergio Muíño Freire ,&nbsp;Begoña Muíño Sar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Smart tourism planning and management emerges as a fundamental pillar for the sustainable development of tourist destinations. In this context, the aim of this research is to deepen the knowledge of tourism in the Cabo Ortegal UNESCO Global Geopark, specifically in relation to the profile of visitors, tourism demand and the potential for implementing a tourism intelligence network in the territory. The methodology used for its achievement is mixed, as it employs quantitative and qualitative techniques, using surveys, in-depth interviews, applications of digital tools, and a content study. The results are a novel and original contribution to the territory with the identification of the visitors' profiles of San Andrés de Teixido and their behaviour within the geopark. In turn, the creation of a data collection model for the tourist office of Cedeira allows to iniciate a network of intelligence and knowledge between the municipalities of the geopark.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 290-305"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144272019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geosensitivity assessment for the formulation of geoconservation strategies in the Darjeeling Hill region, India","authors":"Pubali Dutta,&nbsp;Uttam Kumar Mandal,&nbsp;Raja Paramanik,&nbsp;Bivek Subba,&nbsp;Lakpa Tamang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of poorly managed tourism activities could undermine the global geodiversity of an area. To avoid this, the formulation of geoconservation strategies by identifying geosensitivity is necessary. The Darjeeling Hill region is characterized by a rich geodiversity and is facing severe threats with increasing tourism and depleting physical as well as cultural landscape. The main aim of this paper is to identify the geodiversity threats in this hill region by applying an integrated method of geosensitivity index (SI) based on geodiversity index (GI) and threat index (TI) which would be useful for the formulation of regional geoconservation strategies. The GI has been calculated using the sum of four sub-indices: geological diversity, geomorphological diversity, pedological diversity, and hydrological diversity, whereas the TI is based upon the summation of three sub-indices: land protection index, degradation index, and land use index. In the study area, five zones of geosensitivity have been demarcated: very high (8%), high (11%), moderate (20%), low (28%), and very low (33%). The finding identifies the geoconservation necessities using the calculated and mapped association between landslide intensity and geosensitive zones. It indicates that geosites like Giddhapahar, Paglajhora waterfall, Bokshi waterfall, Kaljhani cave, etc. within the very high and high geosensitive zones need the geodiversity protection through appropriate territorial geoconservation planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 319-333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144279349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring degradation risk levels of resources in sustainable geotourism development: A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach under spherical fuzzy environments","authors":"Kuttusi Zorlu ,&nbsp;Selahattin Polat ,&nbsp;Volkan Dede ,&nbsp;Ali Yılmaz","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural and anthropogenic processes may deteriorate the integrity of geotourism resources. Thus, one of the top concerns in developing geoconservation measures is determining how risky geosites are for degradation. Although studies have made significant contributions to the literature, they also introduce a fundamental problem of objectivity. In particular, evaluators continue to discuss the objectivity problem caused by hesitant, uncertain, and ambiguous information while evaluating geosites. This study quantifies the risk of degradation of geosites using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques integrated into fuzzy environments. For this purpose, we used multi attributive ideal-real comparative analysis (MAIRCA) methods based on spherical fuzzy environments in addition to the level based weight assessment (LBWA) technique. We tested this proposed methodology as a case study on twenty geosites selected from the Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark (KSUGGp) in Türkiye. According to the analysis, we observed significant differences between traditional geosite evaluation approaches and the proposed approach in weighting the criteria and ranking the risk levels of geosites. We expect the proposed approach to make a methodological contribution that can form the basis for the geosite evaluation literature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 250-273"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managers' perspectives on weather extremes prevalence in South African national parks","authors":"Godwell Nhamo,&nbsp;Nthivhiseni Mashula,&nbsp;Gideon W. Mutanda","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The subject of weather extremes, some climate-induced, cannot be wished away. Every economic sector is vulnerable, including nature-based tourism associated with national parks. This paper seeks to establish perceptions and experiences of park managers regarding what they consider to be the most prevalent weather extremes and their impacts on South African national parks. It also aims to determine response strategies adopted to minimise damage from such weather extremes across the six biomes covered by 13 parks studied. Data were generated from 61 middle- and top-level management, with extensive training and experience, and analysed using ATLAS.ti version 23 software. It emerged that certain climate-induced weather extremes were prevalent in specific biomes and national parks. Droughts, extreme heat, floods, and wildfires emerged as the topmost recurring, with strong winds; extreme cold and frost, hailstorms, high tides, and severe storms were also reported. Floods caused infrastructure damage, especially to roads, bridges, water pumps, camps, and electricity supply. Some flora and fauna species were declining due to droughts and wildfires. There were reports of bad flowering seasons, reduced water for waterfalls, and declining snow, which were key tourist attractions in some parks. Extreme heat was associated with staff and tourist fatigue, reduced tourist visits, penguin chick mortality, and bird species migration. Overall, parks were losing income. Park management responded by building back better infrastructure, creating fire breaks, drilling boreholes, adopting solar and green building, instituting water conservation measures, having a rehabilitation programme for erosion, instituting early warning systems, and changing staff work schedules. The study provides a picture of park managers' perceptions of weather extremes, environmental and socio-economic problems resulting from such, and strategies adopted to combat them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 205-219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144253365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The geodiversity site of Geopark Ranah Minang Silokek, Indonesia: Promoting geo-education and geotourism through geosite assessment","authors":"Ratna Savira Adrianda ,&nbsp;Rina Sahara ,&nbsp;Ugi Kurnia Gusti","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Geopark Ranah Minang Silokek holds unique and diverse geodiversity, encompassing geomorphology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, tectonic, structural geology, and complex geological history. This area promises potential to be recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, with a geological rock spanning Pre-Tertiary and Neogene epochs. The study focused on assessing 14 prominent geosites to quantitatively evaluate their geological significance, potential educational value, touristic value, and degradation risks, and intrinsic values. The study's main goal was to globally promote the area's rich geoheritage among the public and geoscientists. Results from this assessment categorized Geopark Ranah Minang Silokek within the moderate-high value range, with the Silokek Karst Complex and Granit of Sangkiamo identified as high-value geosites. Our study identified that there were 5 geological phases that could be studied and observed in the Geopark Ranah Minang Silokek. The findings underscored the geopark's potential for educational and tourism purposes, highlighting its suitability as a pioneering geo-education site and earth science field laboratory in Sumatra, Indonesia. This study also highlighted future initiatives which would include designing geotourism activities and educational programs within Geopark Ranah Minang Silokek and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 239-249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic accessibility of geosites: Evidence from long-term observations in the Belaya River valley (western Greater Caucasus)","authors":"Anna V. Mikhailenko ,&nbsp;Dmitry A. Ruban","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accessibility is an important property of geosites that is essential to their conservation and exploitation. Although many previous researchers took it into account, its full complexity is yet to be realized. Three large geosites in the valley of the Belaya River in the western Greater Caucasus were visited regularly for about a quarter of a century. In this study, the outer and inner accessibility of each considered geosite was assessed semi-quantitatively for five time slices of the 2001–2024 time span. The outer accessibility was examined for each entrance to the geosites, and the inner accessibility was examined for each principal functional zone of the geosites. The results revealed differences of the outer accessibility between the entrances of the same geosites and the inner accessibility between the functional zones of the same geosites. Moreover, it was found that the outer and inner accessibility could increase and decrease through time, and the above-mentioned spatial differences within geosites could also change. A proximity to settlements and tourism growth were among the main factors of the reported spatiotemporal dynamics. The outcomes of this study stressed the need for a much deeper understanding of such geosite properties as accessibility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 306-318"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144272020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}