Geodiversity Conservation: Understanding, Importance, and Strategies
Geodiversity refers to the variety and variability of Earth’s geological, geomorphological, and soil features, including the processes that shape them. It includes landforms, rocks, minerals, fossils, and the broader processes like tectonics, erosion, and sedimentation that form and shape the Earth's landscape. Just as biodiversity represents the variety of life forms, geodiversity represents the Earth’s physical foundation that sustains ecosystems and human life. In the context of conservation, geodiversity focuses on maintaining the natural processes and features that have evolved over millennia. These features not only hold immense scientific value but also provide the foundation for many ecosystem services, such as water regulation, soil formation, and climate regulation. However, despite its significance, geodiversity conservation often goes underappreciated compared to biodiversity conservation. Importance of Geodiversity Conservation Ecosystem Services Geodiversity plays a ...