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Geoconservation Research
Geoconservation in Latin America and the Caribbean
2023, Volume 6 / Issue 2 / pages(250-254)
Editorial Note
1 Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05580-080, Brazil
2 Department of Geology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 59078-970, Brazil
The geodiversity of Latin America and the Carib- bean (LAC) is linked to the geological evolution of several tectonic units: the South American Plat- form, the Andean unstable areas (including the Caribbean, Northern, Central, and Southern An- des), and the Patagonian block, as well as terranes related to the North America and Pacific plates. From Argentina and Chile in the south to Mexico in the north, this geodiversity mirrors a geological narrative discernible in rocks that date back to 3.6 Ga, sediments, landforms, fossils, soils, and both tectonic and superficial active processes that give origin to volcanoes and earthquakes, deserts, gla- cial and mountainous areas. Serving as the abiotic facet of natural diversity, LAC´s geodiversity in- fluences the rich biodiversity of the region, as well as cultural, social and economic aspects. Its under- standing is then crucial for formulating territorial plans and public policies and establishing effec-
tive mechanisms for environmental conservation with a holistic approach. This is a task achievable only through effective communication with soci- ety, which is the role of geoconservation.
In this context, initiatives on the diagnosis, con- servation and promotion of geodiversity and geo- heritage exist in the region with different levels of development. These differences are explained by factors such as geographical heterogeneities, non-comparable geological knowledge across countries, socioeconomic conditions and level of involvement of the geoscientific community with the theme. In the book “Patrimonio geológico y su conservación en América Latina: Situación y perspectivas nacionales” (in English, “Geological heritage and its conservation in Latin America: National situation and perspectives”), Palacio-Pri- eto et al. (2016) make a panorama of the state-of-
Article information | |
First Publish Date:2023-12-20 DOI:10.57647/j.gcr.2023.0602.16 How to cite: Garcia MDGM & Nascimento MALD (2023). Geoconservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Geocon- servation Research. 6(2): 250-254. https://doi.org/10.57647/j.gcr.2023.0602.16 Geoconservation Research e-ISSN: 2588-7343 p-ISSN: 2645-4661 © Author(s) 2023, this article is published with open access at https://oiccpress.com/geoconservation-research/ |
the-art of geoconservation in the region, as well as a synthesis of the key events that contributed to the current status.
According to Palacio-Prieto et al. (2016), one of the first initiatives was the incorporation of the Araripe Geopark, Brazil, into the Global Geoparks Network, in 2006. Subsequently, in 2008, the An- dean Meeting for the Protection of the Geological, Mining, and Paleontological Heritage took place in Loja, Ecuador. The year 2009 witnessed the in- ception of the Latin American and Caribbean Net- work for the Protection and Defense of Geolog- ical, Mining-Metallurgical, and Paleontological Heritage during the I Latin American Congress on Initiatives in Geotourism in La Asunción, Vene- zuela. Moving forward to 2010, the landscape of geotourism activities unfolded with the I National Geotourism Congress held in Mérida, Venezuela, and the I Latin American and Caribbean Confer- ence of Geoparks in Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil. The subsequent year, 2011, featured the initiation of the I Symposium on Geoparks and Geotourism in Milipeuco, Chile, alongside the convening of the II National Congress of Geotourism in Yaracuy,
Venezuela. Additionally, the year included the
II Latin American and Caribbean Geotourism Congress and the II Latin American Congress of Geoparks held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, togeth- er with the I Brazilian Symposium on Geological Heritage.
Advancing to 2013, events encompassed the II Lat- in American Meeting of Geoparks and the inaugu- ral Argentine Symposium on Geological Heritage, in San Martin de Los Andes. In 2015, a significant workshop titled “Geoparks and Geoheritage: Pro- moting the Geoheritage of Latin America” took place. In 2017, the noteworthy creation of GEO- LAC, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (https://redgeo- lac.com/), marked a milestone in the continuous development of geopark initiatives in the region. Currently, twelve UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) comprise the network: five in Brazil, two in Mexico, and one each in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Uruguay (Fig. 1). Besides these UGGp, there are initiatives in different levels of development, either as aspirants or projects across the countries.
Figure 1. UNESCO Global Geoparks in Latin America and the Caribbean, which are part of the GEOLAC.
Studies on Geoconservation in Latin America and the Caribbean have focused on several aspects, such as the identification, evaluation, and manage- ment of geodiversity and geological heritage, top- ics that have been discussed during these meetings over the years. In this context, the Association of Ibero-American Geology and Mining Services – ASGMI has been making efforts to foster the Geoheritage Map of South America and stimulate systematic inventories of geological sites in the countries, using workshops, discussions and pub- lications, such as the Workshop on Geoheritage, in Villa de Leyva, Colombia, in 2018.
Several countries, or groupings thereof, present significant studies and publications on geoheri- tage or geoconservation, with notable contribu- tions standing out. Palacio-Prieto (2012) address- es research and education in geodiversity and geoheritage in Mexico. James-Williamson et al. (2016) provide insights into protecting geoheri- tage in the Caribbean, with a special focus on Ja- maica. Benado et al. (2019) offer a comprehensive analysis of the state of geoconservation in Chile. Also in the same year, Sánchez-Cortez (2019) discusses the conservation of geoheritage in Ec- uador, providing an overview of the current sit- uation and prospects. Carrion-Mero et al. (2022) conducted an assessment of geodiversity on a regional scale, using Ecuador as a case study. In Cuba, Corvea et al. (2020) explore the integration of geoheritage into the management of protected areas. Quesada-Román and Pérez-Umaña (2020) present an overview of the state of geodiversity, geoconservation, and geotourism in Costa Rica. Quesada-Román et al. (2022) focus on geodiver- sity, geoconservation, and geotourism in Central America, while Scammacca et al. (2022) assess the geodiversity in French Guiana, highlighting challenges and implications for sustainable plan- ning. Coronato and Schwarz (2022) discuss the approach to geodiversity and geoconservation in Argentina. Manzaneda et al. (2022) explored geo-
ethics and the promotion of geoheritage in Peru. Garcia et al. (2022a) presented a framework of geoconservation strategies in Brazil, addressing the current status through the analysis of repre- sentative case studies, and Garcia et al. (2022b) emphasized the promotion of actions to foster geological diversity in Brazil, highlighting initia- tives that drive geological diversity in the country. These collective contributions form a comprehen- sive network of knowledge about the preservation of geological heritage in various regions of Latin America and the Caribbean.
A recent and notable endeavor involves the estab- lishment of a working group dedicated to creating a regional branch of ProGEO (International Asso- ciation for the Protection of Geological Heritage) in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022. In the initial phase, two workshops were conducted in 2023, focusing on the LAC geoconservation landscape and the progress of the Geoheritage Map of South America. These workshops mark the first step toward consolidating efforts in in- ventory management, developing appropriate le- gal frameworks, and promoting best practices for geodiversity and geological heritage management in the region. The overarching goal is to foster collaborative and coordinated actions among geo- conservation experts in the region, aiming for the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean and addressing key socio-environmen- tal challenges within society.
This volume comprises contributions that provide an overview of geoconservation efforts in seven countries within Latin America and the Caribbe- an, exploring various aspects and developmental perspectives. Topics covered include Geotour- ism, such as its connection to public policies in Argentina (Coronato and Schwarz), and specific case studies like the Sumaco Volcano in Ecuador (Sánchez-Cortez et al.). The papers also address the identification and assessment of geological
sites, such as the amethyst deposits in Uruguay’s Los Catalanes Gemological District (Goso and Faraone), Poás Volcano National Park in Costa Rica (Pérez-Umaña), and the Eastern Colombian region (Betancurth et al.). Additionally, the geo- logical heritage of the Ñandeyvytykuera Geopark Project in Paraguay is explored (Salinas et al.). In Brazil, Fernandes et al. present a panorama of Geoconservation initiatives in the State of Paraná, while Lima and Garcia discuss the contributions of geodiversity to local communities in the State of Amazonas.
This publication aims to showcase initiatives in geoconservation across Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing local and national per- spectives. Despite the limited number, the papers explore a broad spectrum of abiotic nature conser- vation issues, providing insights into the current state of regional studies. Our goal is to catalyze future actions and research collaborations within the geoscientific community and society.
Benado J, Hervé F, Schilling M, Brilha J (2019). Geoconservation in Chile: State of the Art and Analysis. Geoheritage .11: 793–807. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s12371-018-0330-z
Manzaneda CJ, Villacorta Chambi SP, Toledo Gutierrez C (2022). Geoethics and the Pro- motion of Geoheritage in Peru. In Villacorta Chambi SP (eds) Geoethics in Peru. Springer- Briefs in Geoethics. Springer, Cham. https:// doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86731-7_6
Carrion-Mero P, Duenas-Tovar J, Jaya-Mon- talvo M, Berrezueta E, Jimenez-Orellana N (2022). Geodiversity assessment to regional scale: Ecuador as a case study. Environmental Science & Policy. 136 (167-186). https://doi. org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.009
Coronato A, Schwarz S (2022). Approaching geo-
diversity and geoconservation in Argentina. In- ternational Journal of Geoheritage and Parks. 10(4):597-615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ij- geop.2022.08.011
Corvea JL, Gutiérrez R, Pascual JA, De Busta- mante I, Blanco A (2020). Geoheritage Inte- gration in the Management of the Cuban Pro- tected Areas. Geoheritage. 12 (3). https://doi. org/10.1007/s12371-020-00491-2
Garcia MG, Nascimento MAL., Mansur KL, Pereira RGFA (2022a). Geoconservation strat- egies framework in Brazil: Current status from the analysis of representative case studies. En- vironmental Science & Policy. 128:194-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.11.006.
Garcia MGM, Queiroz DS, Mucivuna VC, Mou- ra P (2022b). Geological diversity fostering actions in geoconservation: An overview of Brazil. International Journal of Geoher- itage and Parks, 10(4):507-522. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2022.08.008.
James-Williamson SA, Aratram M, Green PE (2017). Protecting Geoheritage in the Carib- bean—Insights from Jamaica. Geoheritage. 9, 195–209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-016-
0195-y
Palacio-Prieto JL (2012). Geodiversity and geo- heritage research and education in Mexico. EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria.
Palacio-Prieto JL, Sánchez Cortez JL, Schilling ME (2016). Patrimonio geológico y su con- servación en América Latina. Situación y perspectivas nacionales. México. Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.. Access in: http://www.publicaciones. igg.unam.mx/index.php/ig/catalog/book/77
Quesada-Román A, Pérez-Umaña D(2020). State of the Art of Geodiversity, Geoconservation, and Geotourism in Costa Rica. Geosciences. 10(6): 211. https://doi.org/10.3390/geoscienc- es10060211
Quesada-Román A, Torres-Bernhard L, Ruiz-Ál- varez M.A, Rodríguez-Maradiaga M, Velázquez-Espinoza G, Espinosa-Vega C, Toral J, Rodríguez-Bolaños H (2022). Geo- diversity, Geoconservation, and Geotourism in Central America. Land, 11, 48. https://doi. org/10.3390/land11010048
Sánchez-Cortez JL (2019). Conservation of geo- heritage in Ecuador: Situation and perspec- tives. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks. 7(2):91-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ijgeop.2019.06.002
Scammacca O, Bétard F, Aertgeerts G, Heuret A, Fermet-Quinet N, Montagne D (2022). Geo- diversity Assessment of French Guiana: Chal- lenges and Implications for Sustainable Land Planning. Geoheritage. 14 (3): .83. https://doi. org/10.1007/s12371-022-00716-6
