Integrating Geoheritage into the Management of Protected Areas: Proposal for the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

Abstract

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.

Geoconservation strategies as a subsidy to foster interpretation in protected areas: a case study from the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

“…There are two versions of the MP: the 1982 version covers its initial boundaries (IBDF, 1982), and the current includes the additional area (ICMBio, 2013). These plans were thoroughly examined with two main objectives: (i) select potential geological sites for the inventory (step 3.3.1.2) (IBDF, 1982; and (ii) analyse how geodiversity aspects are addressed in the document (ICMBio, 2013) (step 3.2.2) (Mucivuna et al, 2022c).…”

“…and to get subsides to integrate geoheritage and geoconservation into its guidelines (Mucivuna et al, 2022c). The analysis consisted of three stages: (i) MP review, (ii) diagnosis, and (iii) content analysis.…”

“…The geosites, geodiversity sites (Brilha, , 2018 and viewpoints were selected following the four main steps below (Mucivuna et al, 2022c):…”

“…The potential sites were selected from the data of the inventory of geological sites (Mucivuna et al, 2022c).…”

“…Based on the MP analysis (step 3.2.2), recommendations to include geological sites in the MP were performed according to the MP chapters that directly or indirectly describe geodiversity and the inventory of geological sites (Mucivuna et al, 2022c).…”