Acknowledging geodiversity in safeguarding biodiversity and human health

This paper outlines the 10 major topics related to geodiversity that have emerged since the concept was first introduced in 1993, 30 years ago. After a short introduction, each of the 10 topics is then illustrated by a relevant case study. The 10 topics (italics) and their case studies (bold) are as follows: 1. Celebrating , International Geodiversity Day ; 2. Measurement/Assessment , Potential role of remote sensing ; 3. Natural Capital and Geosystem Services , Coastal geosystem services ; 4. Biodiversity , Mangue de Pedra, Brazil ; 5. Geomaterials , The circular economy ; 6. Geotourism , World's top geotourism sites? ; 7. Geoheritage , Landscape restoration ; 8. National Geoconservation , Trump golf course and an SSSI, Scotland ; 9. World Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks , Azores Global Geopark, Portugal ; 10. Sustainability , Xitle Volcano, Mexico City . It is concluded that, given the way in which geodiversity has developed as a concept, leading to new insights and avenues of research and advancing our understanding of the world since its first use, it clearly now constitutes a significant, geoscientific paradigm. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Geodiversity for science and society’.

Section: (A) Case Study: International Geodiversity Daymentioning

confidence: 99%

Case studies associated with the 10 major geodiversity-related topics

Gray

2024

“…Geodiversity information is required for several scientific and applied purposes (e.g. [2,[8][9][10][11]). Both qualitative and quantitative data on geodiversity are needed in conservation actions [12][13][14], to sustain nature's services to people [15,16], to provide a sound basis for environmental management [17] and to achieve sustainable development goals [18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a taxonomy of geodiversity

Hjort,

Seijmonsbergen,

Kemppinen

et al. 2024

Self Cite

Geodiversity is a topical concept in earth and environmental sciences. Geodiversity information is needed to conserve nature, use ecosystem services and achieve sustainable development goals. Despite the increasing demand for geodiversity data, there exists no comprehensive system for categorizing geodiversity. Here, we present a hierarchically structured taxonomy that is potentially applicable in mapping and quantifying geodiversity across different regions, environments and scales. In this taxonomy, the main components of geodiversity are geology, geomorphology, hydrology and pedology. We propose a six-level hierarchical system where the components of geodiversity are classified at progressively lower taxonomic levels based on their genesis, physical–chemical properties and morphology. This comprehensive taxonomy can be used to compile geodiversity information for scientific research and various applications of value to society and nature conservation. Ultimately, this hierarchical system is the first step towards developing a global geodiversity taxonomy. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Geodiversity for science and society’.

“…An equivalent framework for essential geodiversity variables (EGVs) has been established through interdisciplinary research efforts across the fields of hydrology, ecology, geotechnics, conservation biology, climate and environmental science, economics and remote sensing [ 2 ]. Understanding of geodiversity is important for (i) geosystem services [ 3 ], (ii) conservation of terrestrial, aquatic and marine biodiversity [ 4 ], (iii) conservation of geoheritage including its scientific, cultural and other values [ 5 , 6 ], (iv) ecosystem resilience [ 7 ], (v) sustainable natural resource development [ 8 ], (vi) public health [ 9 ], (vii) natural hazard risk management (Geological Society of America) [ 10 ], (viii) tourism [ 11 ] and (ix) global change [ 12 ]. It is highly relevant to policy targets (SDGs, circular economy, energy transition) [ 13 ] and the Rights of Nature [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The status and future of essential geodiversity variables

Schrodt,

Vernham,

Bailey

et al. 2024

Self Cite

Rapid environmental change, natural resource overconsumption and increasing concerns about ecological sustainability have led to the development of ‘Essential Variables' (EVs). EVs are harmonized data products to inform policy and to enable effective management of natural resources by monitoring global changes. Recent years have seen the instigation of new EVs beyond those established for climate, oceans and biodiversity (ECVs, EOVs and EBVs), including Essential Geodiversity Variables (EGVs). EGVs aim to consistently quantify and monitor heterogeneity of Earth-surface and subsurface abiotic features, including geology, geomorphology, hydrology and pedology. Here we assess the status and future development of EGVs to better incorporate geodiversity into policy and sustainable management of natural resources. Getting EGVs operational requires better consensus on defining geodiversity, investments into a governance structure and open platform for curating the development of EGVs, advances in harmonizing in situ measurements and linking heterogeneous databases, and development of open and accessible computational workflows for global digital mapping using machine-learning techniques. Cross-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships with governmental and private organizations are needed to ensure the successful development and uptake of EGVs across science and policy. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Geodiversity for science and society’.