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E. (2020). Methodological proposal for the inventory and assessment of geomorphosites: An integrated approach focused on territorial management and geoconservation. Environmental Management.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has created many initiatives to integrate geodiversity and geoheritage into the management of protected areas through a broader concept of nature. Many protected areas, however, do not have an inventory of geoheritage sites. In view of this fact, this study aims to discuss the geoheritage inventory and to analyse, through a case study, how geodiversity is described in an existing management plan, prepared before IUCN included geoheritage in the Manual for the Management of Protected Areas. This study was conducted in the Itatiaia National Park, which has outstanding geological and geomorphological features. To ensure appropriate assessment of geological sites (including geomorphological, hydrological, petrological, sedimentary, structural sites, etc.), we took inventory of geoheritage and then analysed how the management plan addresses geodiversity. The geoheritage inventory includes 17 geosites distributed in six geological frameworks, seven geodiversity sites and three viewpoints. We concluded that although geodiversity is mentioned in the plan, the geoheritage inventory would facilitate and support the exploration of management possibilities that range from protection to education. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of geoheritage inventory in the management plans of protected areas because it is a valuable tool for the proper conservation and management of geoheritage.