Geosite

The derivation of the term Geoheritage is from geological heritage. It is thus as heritage category comparable to other forms of natural heritage, such as biodiversity. Some geoheritage sites are related to human activity such as mining, and can also be viewed in terms of cultural heritage.

Geoheritage is also the title of a periodical published by Springer from 2009.

The first reference to geoheritage as such was at a 1993 conference held in the UK, the Malvern International Conference on Geological and Landscape Conservation (Joyce 1994b; O'Halloran et al. 1994). The term geological heritage was first mentioned at the First International Symposium on the Conservation of our Geological Heritage at Digne, France in 1991. The matter is further discussed in 2002 by Sharples.

Conceptually, geoheritage derives from various writings of Busby et al. 2001 and Hallam 1989).

In Sharples 1995 the original concept of geoheritage was further developed to include the protection of dynamic geological processes and geodiversity.

M Brocx & V Semeniuk (Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90: 53-87, 2007) offer the following definition.

Geoheritage encompasses global, national, statewide, and local features of geology, at all scales that are intrinsically important sites or culturally important sites offering information or insights into the evolution of the Earth; or into the history of science, or that can be used for research, teaching, or reference.

Geotourism adds to ecotourism’s principal focus on plants (flora) and animals (fauna) by adding a third dimension of the abiotic environment. It is seen around the world through the growth of geoparks as well as independently in many natural and urban areas where tourism’s focus is on the geological environment.

In Australia, the term geoheritage appeared initially in Bradbury (1993), and Sharples (1993).

In Australia there are sites which have natural features (such as Fossil Hill at Cliefden Caves, NSW); cultural features (such as the site of the discovery of the first limestone in inland Australia at Cliefden Caves); scenically important sites such as the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, of New South Wales, Australia; and indigenous culturally important sites (such as Uluru in the Northern Territory in central Australia).

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