Patrimônio geológico e geoconservação: subsídios à gestão do meio natural no litoral paulista

Abstract

This work aims to contribute to the knowledge of geodiversity and geological heritage of the coastal region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, as a way to subsidize future actions on natural heritage management in the region. The revised and integrated inventory of the geological heritage of the northern part of the coast resulted in 44 geosites distributed in eight geological frameworks. The selected geosites are representative of a geological history from the Neoproterozoic (Brazilian-Pan-African Cycle) to the recent, covering a period of about 700 million years. Forty-three geodiversity sites were defined, which were evaluated for potential educational and tourist use and risk of degradation, resulting in a practical categorization regarding public use of these sites. The data obtained in these inventories also provided bases for the organization and installation of interpretive panels on the northern coast. The preliminary survey of ecosystem services provided by geodiversity resulted in 29 services distributed in five functions and was carried out through identification of ecosystems and elements of geodiversity, selection of services and recognition of the main threats that affect geodiversity in the region. Based on these data and on successful examples, we propose the steps in the composition of a strategy and action plan for geodiversity in the region. It is hoped, therefore, to advance in terms of influence on public policies on nature conservation for this portion of the state.