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Geoheritage and Geotourism
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1Introduction: Geoheritage and GeotourismThomas A HoseLong engagement in geological inquiry explains Europe’s rich legacy of geological material in its museums, universities, archives and libraries – its cultural geoheritage. Its geological and geomorphological sites (or geosites and geomorphosites), landforms, rocks, minerals and fossils (or geodiversity) – its natural geoheritage – populate the geological literature. The recognition that many of the localities mentioned in the literature (and from which the specimens in the collections had been gathered) were lost, degraded or no longer accessible led to the develop-ment of measures to protect them – that is, geoconservation. The recognition that geology in general, and geoconservation in particular (which demanded funding), were poorly regarded and understood by the public led to efforts by geologists and others to develop geotourism. The interrelationships between these various elements, examined within this volume, are summarised in Figure 1.1. In these various endeavours, Europe has led the field in the now globally accepted definitions and terminological development. However, the initial contribution of Australasia to geodiversity (Household and Sharples 2008, 269–70) and later to geotourism (Dowling and Newsome 2008a) should not be ignored. Likewise, whilst Europe led the way in developing geoparks, it is in Asia that they have particularly blossomed in size and popularity. For example, the People’s Republic of China has more than a quarter (31 of 111) and the region as a whole over a third (39 of 111) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geoparks designated by September 2014; additionally, the People’s Republic of China had at the same time 185 designated and 56 candidate national geoparks. It was the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China, along with UNESCO, that jointly held the First International Conference on Geoparks in Beijing in 2004. However, it is the practices and approaches originally developed in Europe that have guided the global develop-ment and recognition of geoparks.Geoheritage: a modern geological paradigmGeoheritage is a term in increasing usage in the European and global geological, geoconserva-tion and nature conservation literature. Geoheritage is commonly interchanged with the similar terms ‘geological heritage’ (in Europe) and ‘geologic heritage’ (in North America). A major new summary of European geoheritage and geoconservation noted that: ‘The natural heritage of any country includes its geological heritage, made up of many key geosites, as well as landscapes, profoundly shaped and defined by their geology. Fossils, rocks and minerals are just as much natural heritage as living plants and animals’ (Wimbledon 2012, 7). It is also suggested that: ‘Geoheritage is an applied scientific discipline which focuses on unique, special and representa-tive geosites, supporting the science of geology and its place in modern culture’ (ProGEO 2012, 2279 (Boydell - Geoheritage and Geotourism).indd 108/10/2016 5:21 pm
© 2016, Boydell and Brewer

1Introduction: Geoheritage and GeotourismThomas A HoseLong engagement in geological inquiry explains Europe’s rich legacy of geological material in its museums, universities, archives and libraries – its cultural geoheritage. Its geological and geomorphological sites (or geosites and geomorphosites), landforms, rocks, minerals and fossils (or geodiversity) – its natural geoheritage – populate the geological literature. The recognition that many of the localities mentioned in the literature (and from which the specimens in the collections had been gathered) were lost, degraded or no longer accessible led to the develop-ment of measures to protect them – that is, geoconservation. The recognition that geology in general, and geoconservation in particular (which demanded funding), were poorly regarded and understood by the public led to efforts by geologists and others to develop geotourism. The interrelationships between these various elements, examined within this volume, are summarised in Figure 1.1. In these various endeavours, Europe has led the field in the now globally accepted definitions and terminological development. However, the initial contribution of Australasia to geodiversity (Household and Sharples 2008, 269–70) and later to geotourism (Dowling and Newsome 2008a) should not be ignored. Likewise, whilst Europe led the way in developing geoparks, it is in Asia that they have particularly blossomed in size and popularity. For example, the People’s Republic of China has more than a quarter (31 of 111) and the region as a whole over a third (39 of 111) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geoparks designated by September 2014; additionally, the People’s Republic of China had at the same time 185 designated and 56 candidate national geoparks. It was the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China, along with UNESCO, that jointly held the First International Conference on Geoparks in Beijing in 2004. However, it is the practices and approaches originally developed in Europe that have guided the global develop-ment and recognition of geoparks.Geoheritage: a modern geological paradigmGeoheritage is a term in increasing usage in the European and global geological, geoconserva-tion and nature conservation literature. Geoheritage is commonly interchanged with the similar terms ‘geological heritage’ (in Europe) and ‘geologic heritage’ (in North America). A major new summary of European geoheritage and geoconservation noted that: ‘The natural heritage of any country includes its geological heritage, made up of many key geosites, as well as landscapes, profoundly shaped and defined by their geology. Fossils, rocks and minerals are just as much natural heritage as living plants and animals’ (Wimbledon 2012, 7). It is also suggested that: ‘Geoheritage is an applied scientific discipline which focuses on unique, special and representa-tive geosites, supporting the science of geology and its place in modern culture’ (ProGEO 2012, 2279 (Boydell - Geoheritage and Geotourism).indd 108/10/2016 5:21 pm
© 2016, Boydell and Brewer

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Illustrations vii
  4. Preface xi
  5. Acknowledgments xiii
  6. Abbreviations xiv
  7. 1 Introduction: Geoheritage and Geotourism 1
  8. 2 Britain and Europe’s Geoheritage 15
  9. 3 Geological Inquiry in Britain and Europe: A Brief History 31
  10. 4 Museums and Geoheritage in Britain and Europe 55
  11. 5 Geoheritage for Sale: Collectors, Dealers and Auction Houses 81
  12. 6 Geoheritage in the Field 101
  13. 7 Geoconservation: An Introduction to European Principles and Practices 129
  14. 8 Geotourism in Britain and Europe: Historical and Modern Perspectives 153
  15. 9 Protecting and Promoting the Geoheritage of South-Eastern Europe 173
  16. 10 Geoheritage Case Study: The Isle of Wight, England 195
  17. 11 A Geoheritage Interpretation Case Study: The Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland 205
  18. 12 A Geoheritage Case Study: GeoMôn in Wales 219
  19. 13 A Geoheritage Case Study: The Ruhrgebiet National GeoPark, Germany 233
  20. 14 A Geoheritage Case Study: Andalucía, Spain 245
  21. 15 Geoheritage Case Study: Geotourism and Geoparks in Scotland 261
  22. 16 Geoheritage Case Study: Canton Valais, Switzerland 279
  23. 17 Geoheritage Case Study: The Danube Region in Serbia 291
  24. 18 Conclusion 305
  25. Contributors 313
  26. Index 316
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781782048541-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Illustrations vii
  4. Preface xi
  5. Acknowledgments xiii
  6. Abbreviations xiv
  7. 1 Introduction: Geoheritage and Geotourism 1
  8. 2 Britain and Europe’s Geoheritage 15
  9. 3 Geological Inquiry in Britain and Europe: A Brief History 31
  10. 4 Museums and Geoheritage in Britain and Europe 55
  11. 5 Geoheritage for Sale: Collectors, Dealers and Auction Houses 81
  12. 6 Geoheritage in the Field 101
  13. 7 Geoconservation: An Introduction to European Principles and Practices 129
  14. 8 Geotourism in Britain and Europe: Historical and Modern Perspectives 153
  15. 9 Protecting and Promoting the Geoheritage of South-Eastern Europe 173
  16. 10 Geoheritage Case Study: The Isle of Wight, England 195
  17. 11 A Geoheritage Interpretation Case Study: The Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland 205
  18. 12 A Geoheritage Case Study: GeoMôn in Wales 219
  19. 13 A Geoheritage Case Study: The Ruhrgebiet National GeoPark, Germany 233
  20. 14 A Geoheritage Case Study: Andalucía, Spain 245
  21. 15 Geoheritage Case Study: Geotourism and Geoparks in Scotland 261
  22. 16 Geoheritage Case Study: Canton Valais, Switzerland 279
  23. 17 Geoheritage Case Study: The Danube Region in Serbia 291
  24. 18 Conclusion 305
  25. Contributors 313
  26. Index 316
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