Geodiversity: An integrative review as a contribution to the sustainable management of the whole of nature

Abstract

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aiming to achieve a better world for the entire human population. In spite of the fact that human development is dependent on nature and its resources, the non-living (abiotic) natural resources and processes are persistently neglected in international and national policies that foster sustainable development. This paper reviews the geodiversity concept and makes the links with well-established concepts and strategies, namely the ones related with natural capital and ecosystem services, to demonstrate that the UN SDG can only be achieved if the elements and processes of geodiversity are definitely considered in the global agenda.

Web of interactions among diversity approaches to identify ecosystem essential variables: Negev Highlands case study

“…1, ecosystem diversity is an end product, which depends on many abiotic and biotic processes and their interactions. As such, concept of geodiversity encompasses the changes in resource availability across time and space (Brilha et al 2018). These interactions are also the source of physical resources for biota.…”

“…The components include water, energy, space, and nutrients, and their distribution and abundance are variable in time and space. As such, concept of geodiversity encompasses the changes in resource availability across time and space (Brilha et al 2018). Identification of geodiversity variables is essential for the selection of biodiversity variables, since geodiversity represents the spatiotemporal space of environmental conditions determining resource availability, which then partly determines terrestrial biodiversity development (Tukiainen et al 2017).…”

A geomorphodiversity map of the Soutpansberg Range, South Africa

“…The term geodiversity emerged during the 1990s to describe variety within the abiotic nature (Gray 2004, Panizza 2009, Gray et al 2013, Brilha et al 2018. This emergence came from the backdrop of the misconception and bias that led to the view that biodiversity and conservation applied only to the biotic components of the natural systems (Jerie et al 2001, Milton 2002.…”

“…This emergence came from the backdrop of the misconception and bias that led to the view that biodiversity and conservation applied only to the biotic components of the natural systems (Jerie et al 2001, Milton 2002. The misconception is an aftermath of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (Panizza 2009, Brilha et al 2018 where the biodiversity concept had dominated. Thereafter, the term geodiversity was coined and was generally used in geological and geomorphological conservation studies in Australia (e.g.…”

Karst as Important Resource for Geopark-Based Tourism: Current State and Biases

“…It was recently realized that these resources may have significant value as a natural heritage which requires proper conservation and as a basis for tourism development which brings socio-economic benefits (additional income to local and national budgets, facilitation of sustainable development, etc.). The relevant ideas have been presented in the works of Brilha et al [1], Gordon [2], Gray [3], Hose [4], Ólafsdóttir and Tverijonaite [5], Prosser [6], and Ruban [7]. The powerful approach to the simultaneous conservation and tourism-based exploitation of the geological heritage resource, namely the UNESCO-based initiative of global geoparks, has been developed during the past two decades.…”