Geoconservation and Geotourism in Geological Heritage
Summary
Geoconservation and geotourism have emerged as complementary approaches to safeguard, interpret and promote sites of geological significance. Geoconservation encompasses the identification, assessment and management of geoheritage assets—those features of Earth’s history that hold scientific, educational and cultural value. Geotourism harnesses these assets to create visitor experiences that foster appreciation of geodiversity while supporting local economies and conserving natural systems. Central to this endeavour are inventory and assessment frameworks that quantify scientific, aesthetic, cultural and economic values of geosites and geomorphosites. Management strategies range from zoning and site monitoring through to stakeholder-led trail design and interpretive infrastructure. UNESCO Global Geoparks provide a global model for integrating geoheritage conservation with sustainable tourism development and community engagement, highlighting the role of education and geoethics in fostering public stewardship. Advances in digital mapping, least-cost path modelling and participatory planning are enabling more objective and inclusive design of geotrails, enhancing accessibility and interpretive value while minimising environmental impact. At the same time, holistic assessments of ecosystem services, economic viability and social benefits underpin evidence-based policy and practice, ensuring that geoconservation and geotourism contribute to broader sustainability goals.
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Geoconservation and Geotourism in Geological Heritage publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in geoconservation and geotourism in geological heritage across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Geoheritage: The sum of geological features, formations and processes that have intrinsic scientific, educational or cultural value.
Geodiversity: The variability of Earth’s abiotic components, including rocks, minerals, landforms and the processes that shape them.
Geoconservation: The practice of identifying, protecting and managing geoheritage to maintain its value for present and future generations.
Geotourism: A form of tourism centred on geological sites and landscapes, aimed at promoting education, conservation and sustainable development.
Geomorphosite: A landform or set of landforms valued for their scientific, aesthetic, cultural or socio-economic importance within geoheritage frameworks.
References
- Optimising geotrail planning by leveraging least-cost path for sustainable geotourism development: a case study on a Tasmanian west coast post-mining landscape. Information Technology & Tourism (2025).
- Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation. Geosciences (2018).
- Research Trends in Geotourism: A Bibliometric Analysis Using the Scopus Database. Geosciences (2020).
- Worldwide Research on Geoparks through Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability (2021).
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