GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-16DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00903-z
Ezz El Din Abdel Hakim Khalaf
{"title":"Geoheritage and Cultural-Religious Heritage of Samalute-Minia Area in North Egypt","authors":"Ezz El Din Abdel Hakim Khalaf","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00903-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00903-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation, and geotourism insights are meticulously interrelated. Their investigations are of comprehensive attention worldwide because of their high scientific, educational, scenic, and recreational values. Various new destinations in Egypt have been promoted for the geotourism and abundance in significance geological heritages in which Samalute-Minia Area is one of the most energetic tourist’s magnetism. The study area is an imperative geo-cultural province that has significant number of geosites and geotouristic fascinations, demonstrating broad array of distinctive phenomena. The latter are assigned to remarkable geomorphological, volcanological, hydrogeological, quarrying, historical, and cultural landscapes that are deliberated a vital part of the polythematic geopark. All of these sites allow the visitors, sightseers, and indigenous populations to enjoy different aspects of tourism such as religious, antiquities, recreational, safari, or ecological tourism as the root for providing the commitment, education, and pleasure. The goal of the present paper aims to stress the reputation of the geological heritage earmarked by Samalute-Minia Area. A quantitative assessment of geodiversity at the study area was carried out using the Brilha’s method (2016) in which the evaluation outputs are labeled for geotourism obligations. A list of eight geosites has been inventoried. Among the principal geosites are (1) geomorphology and karst landforms (GKL), (2) circular structural landforms (CSL), (3) volcanic landforms (VL), (4) riverine landforms (RL), (5) Christian Religion sites (CRS), (6) ancient Egypt monuments (AEM), (7) industrial sites (IS), and (8) hydrogeological aquifers (HA). Quantitative valuation has been revealed that the bunched geosites of GKL, VL, and RL have great scientific and educational value scores, while the geosites of CRS and AEM have high potential touristic use compared to low value for the IS. Regarding the risk evaluation, a high degradation risk is assigned to the sites of AEM, RL, and HA. Severe threats comprising pollution, rapid urbanization, intense degradation of underground water, illegal water pumping, quarrying/excavation, bumpy tourism, and lacking of environmental management are the chief causes for the degradation risk. The lasting five geosites display a moderate to low risk of degradation because there are no extreme observed denudation processes that generate degradation. The protection and geoconservation, increasing the touristic attractiveness, and the socio-economic development for the local community could be proposed in order to decrease the high degradation risk for some geosites. Lastly, the Samalute-Minia Area needs more scientific and potential geoheritage study, improvement in the security circumstances, promotion of the geosites, and strategic implementations as well as regulation constraints for continuous regional development to improve geotourism and geoconser","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138691339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00910-0
Ottone Scammacca, François Bétard, David Montagne, Lucas Rivera, Célia Biancat, Geoffrey Aertgeerts, Arnauld Heuret
{"title":"From Geodiversity to Geofunctionality: Quantifying Geodiversity-Based Ecosystem Services for Landscape Planning in French Guiana","authors":"Ottone Scammacca, François Bétard, David Montagne, Lucas Rivera, Célia Biancat, Geoffrey Aertgeerts, Arnauld Heuret","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00910-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00910-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geodiversity assessment gained a prominent interest in the geoscientific community and beyond. However, it is not always sufficient for land planning or geoconservation. It is then pivotal to account for the contribution of functional geodiversity (i.e., geofunctionality), for instance declining the ecosystem services (ES) cascade model. However, by our knowledge, geodiversity-based ES (GES) have been rarely quantified. This paper aims to adapt existing ES-related approaches to quantify and map GES in French Guiana, a French Overseas territory located in the Amazon, where ongoing land use changes might affect ES supply. Seven GES were spatially assessed through an indicator-based approach accounting for both offered and used GES and merged into multiservice maps. Multiservice maps were then combined with a hemeroby index to highlight geofunctionality hotspots. Difference maps were finally used to compare geodiversity and geofunctionality patterns. The ES framework seems an effective way to quantitatively assess geofunctionality. Geodiversity and geofunctionality do not follow the same spatial patterns: very geodiverse areas can be poorly functional and vice-versa. Therefore, geodiversity and geofunctionality need to be both considered when it comes to landscape planning. This might be enhanced through hotspot mapping to highlight priority areas for planners. This study also focuses on the role of human inputs in GES supply and raises questions about the selection of proper indicators that should fit each step from the ES supply to management. High-quality datasets must be available and their occasional absence is a central matter of land planning that must be addressed before every decision-making process.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138691340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00911-z
Silas Samuel dos Santos Costa, João Correia Saraiva Junior, Zuleide Maria Carvalho Lima, Marcos Antonio Leite do Nascimento, Matheus Lisboa Nobre da Silva
{"title":"Coastal Cliffs of the Rio Grande do Norte State: Geoheritage Characterization and Valorization in Northeast Brazil","authors":"Silas Samuel dos Santos Costa, João Correia Saraiva Junior, Zuleide Maria Carvalho Lima, Marcos Antonio Leite do Nascimento, Matheus Lisboa Nobre da Silva","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00911-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00911-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeast Brazil, has 410 km of coastal extension, being 107 km approximately composed of cliffs excavated in Cenozoic sedimentary rocks. In the last three decades, these cliffs are passing for transformations due the human occupation, tourism activity and climatic changes. To inventory the geoheritage present in these cliffs is essential to support management plans that include investment to conserving part of this Earth’s natural history. This paper aims to inventory, classify, assess and value the Potiguar cliffs as geological sites. From 46 outcrops that Saraiva Junior (2021) studied to describe the cliffs’ geomorphology, 20 geological sites were selected, these are used in national and international publications and divided in three frameworks: Miocene-Pliocene sedimentation, Pleistocene sedimentation and Cenozoic tectonics. These 20 cliffs were inventoried using the Brilha (2016) methodology in order to qualify and quantify the scientific value, potential educational and touristic uses and degradation risk. The Ponta do Mel, Barra de Tabatinga, Ponta dos Três Irmãos, Barreira do Inferno, Ponta do Reduto and Morro do Chapéu were defined as the most valuable cliffs on the scientific aspect. We proposed monitoring planning based on the cliff’s baselines, protection measures based on the specific threats and three geotouristic routes based on the geographic distribution of the sites and the frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138691387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00901-1
Vincent Biot, Emmy Martins, Thierry Pelissie, Quentin Vautrin
{"title":"3D Printing, a Tool for Raising Geoheritage Awareness in the Causses du Quercy UNESCO Global Geopark, France","authors":"Vincent Biot, Emmy Martins, Thierry Pelissie, Quentin Vautrin","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00901-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00901-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>One of the main missions of the Geoparks is to sensibilize the inhabitants of the protected territories to the rich geoheritage that surrounds them through numerous educational activities, such as guided tours of geological sites, thematic workshops on Quercy paleontology, or training courses for schoolchildren and professionals. However, it can sometimes be difficult to convey important concepts and information without adapted educational material. The paleontological heritage of the Geopark UNESCO Causses du Quercy is extremely rich, but also extremely fragile, with many unique and precious fossils that are difficult to valorize. 3D printing of these exceptional pieces after being scanned is an efficient method to overcome this problem. 3D printing is now regularly used in educational operations on the geopark territory. In a span of a year, we have already observed several positive outcomes from the use of these prints. In particular, the public, both scholars and general public, is more receptive and more active during the educational activities offered by the Geopark teams, and the information is thus more easily transmitted. Also, the prints allow us to illustrate concepts or information that is otherwise more difficult to explain. Finally, this technique allows us to put a fragile and previously inaccessible geoheritage within reach of everyone, which is an ideal window to make the public understand its value and richness.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138580102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00908-8
Subhajit Sen, Mohamed Omar Abouelresh, Abhijit Santra, Ali Hassan Al-Musabeh, Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail
{"title":"Geoheritage Assessment of the Geosites in Tuwaiq Mountain, Saudi Arabia: in the Perspective of Geoethics, Geotourism, and Geoconservation","authors":"Subhajit Sen, Mohamed Omar Abouelresh, Abhijit Santra, Ali Hassan Al-Musabeh, Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00908-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00908-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tuwaiq Mountain is in the central portion of Saudi Arabia and is characterised by several denuded landscapes and geological features. A total of 10 geosites have been identified for the quantitative assessment. Scarp, cuesta, mesa, butte, pinnacles, gully network, wadi, and cave are the geomorphological features, and Jurassic fossil remains are part of the geological features. Geoheritage score was prepared based on scientific, educational, tourism, and degradational values. The study indicates that most of the sites fall within moderate to high scores. Low to high degradation risk of the geosites suggests the need for geoconservation. Geoethics is also a significant aspect of generating local awareness of the value of geomorphological and geological features with outstanding values and potential for tourism development.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"254 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138580105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-04DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00905-x
Bhawanisingh G. Desai, Anjali Chaudhary, Suruchi Chauhan, Ajendra Singh
{"title":"Exploring the Geoheritage and Geosites of Jaramara Area, Kachchh, India: a Window into the Mesozoic Rift Basin","authors":"Bhawanisingh G. Desai, Anjali Chaudhary, Suruchi Chauhan, Ajendra Singh","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00905-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00905-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geoscience, as a discipline, is deeply rooted in field-based learning, depending greatly on real-world observations. Geological outcrops are essential for effective learning and scientific advancement. Crafting educational initiatives centred around essential geological sites carries immense significance. Hence, imparting geological knowledge to future generations becomes paramount by actively safeguarding precious geological sites from irreversible loss. The Kachchh Rift basin holds a wealth of knowledge about Mesozoic sediments, showcasing remarkably well-preserved fossil-rich layers. The notable Jaramara geostation has gained substantial acclaim as a prominent tourist hotspot. Owing to its historical and cultural heritage as a battleground site, referred to as “kutch jo Kurukshetra,” it attracts significant tourists. Identifying proposed geo-education stations in these tourist sites will improve geo-education for the general public. Promoting this region as a vital geosite serves a dual purpose: preserving and nurturing the area for geoscience enthusiasts while contributing to the local community’s growth and development. Since general awareness mainly revolves around Jaramara’s cultural aspects, the current work advocates for integrating Jaramara as a Geoeducation station by complimenting 14 additional sites unique to the general public and geoscience professionals. These sites offer an enriching outdoor classroom to grasp the Mesozoic geological history of the Jhurio, Jumara, and Jhuran formations of the Kachchh Basin. Among these sites, the Jaramara cliff stands out with its gracefully curving escarpment and distinct Jara and Jumara domes. This geological wonder exhibits a seamless sequence of the Jhurio, Jumara, and Jhuran Formations. Thus, these sites and the suggested locations are pivotal in unravelling the intricate story of the Mesozoic succession.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"17 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138508236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-12-02DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00902-0
Katia Adriana González-Rodríguez, Víctor Manuel Bravo-Cuevas, Consuelo Cuevas-Cardona, Miguel Ángel Cabral-Perdomo, Elizabeth Ortiz-Caballero
{"title":"The Hidden Faces of Paleontology: Some Case Studies in Central Mexico","authors":"Katia Adriana González-Rodríguez, Víctor Manuel Bravo-Cuevas, Consuelo Cuevas-Cardona, Miguel Ángel Cabral-Perdomo, Elizabeth Ortiz-Caballero","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00902-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00902-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mexico has a diverse fossil record which ranges from the Paleozoic to the Pleistocene, depicting both marine and continental environments. Some of these paleontological sites are exploited by ordinary people to obtain rocks for the construction industry. These non-professionals whom we refer as “the hidden faces for paleontological studies” have enabled the preservation, conservation, and study of many fossils. The effort and compromise that these people show when collecting fossils is widely unknown; their names and faces are barely exposed in publications or reports. This work pretends to tribute their enormous commitment to conserve the paleontological heritage of Mexico, by showing some examples of their contributions, and the way we partially acknowledge their invaluable help. Likewise, the importance of private fossil collections and the creation of local museums is commented.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138508250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-11-14DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00899-6
Jiri Chlachula, Eduard V. Mychko
{"title":"Geoheritage of the Kaliningrad Region, SE Baltic Coast","authors":"Jiri Chlachula, Eduard V. Mychko","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00899-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00899-6","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Kaliningrad Region is physiographically a mosaic and travel-attractive part of the SE Baltic coast. The Sambia Peninsula, the geomorphically most interesting, E-W-oriented extension of the mainland, has been shaped by past dynamic processes, starting with the Precambrian tectonics, the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sea transitions, the Last Ice Age glaciations, the post-glacial riverine network formation, and the present shoreline erosion. The complex geological and palaeogeographical history generated a broad variety of geo-forms and landscapes, relicts of which are seen from the sea coast to the mainland. Rich fossils sealed in ancient, well-stratified formations of specific lithologies, with the famous Palaeogene amber beds, provide witness of past natural settings with flourishing life forms. The great geo-diversity of the peninsula underscores its scientific value as well as national and international tourism significance, adding to the historical architectural sites of this area. Some of these geomorphologically and geologically valuable places are increasingly threatened, besides anthropogenic factors, by storm surges, gravity flows and aeolian activity, causing progressing erosion along undercut cliffs, slumping and degradation of sand dune fields, among other geo-hazards. Survey, mapping and publicity of unique geo-sites are a proviso for their registration in natural heritage programmes with the implementation of appropriate geo-environmental protection strategies in balance with land-use management. This paper outlines the scientific, educational and touristic potential of the national geoheritage in the frame of the Baltic Sea coast geo-conservation initiatives.","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"18 8","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134956693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2023-11-09DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00897-8
April Foote, Heather Handley, Károly Németh
{"title":"Remnants of a Young Monogenetic Volcanic Field and the Fragile Balance of Anthropogenic Interaction","authors":"April Foote, Heather Handley, Károly Németh","doi":"10.1007/s12371-023-00897-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00897-8","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The rapid development of Auckland City in New Zealand from an initial rural settlement to a global urban hub produced a characteristic footprint on the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF). This process was facilitated by increased anthropogenic activity that has resulted in the deterioration and destruction of many volcanic landforms and caused severe archaeological, cultural, geological and educational losses in an alarmingly short timescale. The AVF has 53 volcanic centres, and of these, 17% are classified as intact, 28% are partially intact, 30% are partially destroyed, and 25% are destroyed (including 13% that have no trace left). Based on surface area, approximately 40% of volcanic deposits in the AVF have been lost. The most common causes for impacts are public land use, quarrying and urban development. Regardless, there is significant potential to be found in the balance between the losses and gains of anthropogenic impacts on volcanic landforms. In the AVF and worldwide, geological studies have often been assisted by the presence of outcrops created by quarrying, mining, transport infrastructure and other modifications of volcanic landforms. Areas of significant volcanic geoheritage worldwide are often linked with these impacted volcanoes, and the information gained from these geoheritage areas assists in the management of geodiversity and geoeducation. Several volcanic centres are currently at risk of further destruction in the near future (Crater Hill, Waitomokia, Maugataketake, Kohuroa, Three Kings, St Heliers and McLaughlins Mt) and should be prioritised for any possible research before it is too late. We propose that a geological assessment should be a requirement before and, if possible, during any land development on or near a volcanic landform. Allowing access to scientists through the course of development in areas with volcanic landforms would, in turn, aid public and governing bodies in decision-making for the future of the city and its volcanoes in terms of increased knowledge of volcanic mechanisms of the AVF and awareness of the potential associated hazards.","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":" 22","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135192290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}