5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[MZZ46-P09] Valuing "Sites" in the Sado Island Geopark
Keywords:sado island, geopark, geotourism, geosite, geological heritage
In the Sado Island Geopark, areas should be preserved and valuable places are designated as "Sites”. The Sites can be observed characteristic landforms and outcrops are classified as "geo sites," the sites with cultural value as "Cultural Sites", and the sites with biological value as "Eco Sites”. The geosites, especially, actively utilized for tourism and education, called “Active geosites”.
Sado Island Geopark was recognized as "re-certified with conditions" at the 50th meeting of the Japan Geopark Committee held on December 14, 2023. As the reason to be certificated with conditions added, we got a point like “The number of Sites is unbalanced. The number of Eco Sites and Cultural Sites is far fewer than geoites.”
Currently, there are 136 "geosites" in the Sado Island Geopark, of which 50 are "Active Geo sites”. In contrast, there are only 7 "Cultural Sites" and 5 "Eco sites". However, the 50 “Active geosites” includes 19 sites with cultural elements and 4 sites with biological elements, and some sites are with both cultural and biological elements.
Based on the point on unbalanced the number of sites, we are reviewing site valorization and classification. In particular, we feel that it is necessary to revise our previous way of Sites designation that have "multiple values" of culture and nature in addition to geomorphology and geology. Until now, Sado Island Geopark has given priority to geological values in designating sites with "multiple values" as "geosites," but looking at other situations, some areas have adopted the method of classifying sites by determining what is particularly major among the multiple values1) or classifying them as "complex sites2).
In this year's conference, among those set as "geosites," there are many sites that have geological value but also other values, such as the "Sado Gold and Silver Mine Site," a nationally designated historic site that produced gold, a benefit of earth activities, and the "Iwayayama Grotto," a sea cave where artifacts from the Jomon to Edo periods were found and it is still used as a place of worship, a prefectural-designated historic site. We would like to discuss how these sites should be set up.
(1) For example, the "Happo-Shirakami Geopark Conservation Plan" of the Happo-Shirakami Geopark Promotion Council (2022)
(2) For example, the "Progress Report" of the Izu Peninsula Geopark Promotion Council (at the time of 2020)
Sado Island Geopark was recognized as "re-certified with conditions" at the 50th meeting of the Japan Geopark Committee held on December 14, 2023. As the reason to be certificated with conditions added, we got a point like “The number of Sites is unbalanced. The number of Eco Sites and Cultural Sites is far fewer than geoites.”
Currently, there are 136 "geosites" in the Sado Island Geopark, of which 50 are "Active Geo sites”. In contrast, there are only 7 "Cultural Sites" and 5 "Eco sites". However, the 50 “Active geosites” includes 19 sites with cultural elements and 4 sites with biological elements, and some sites are with both cultural and biological elements.
Based on the point on unbalanced the number of sites, we are reviewing site valorization and classification. In particular, we feel that it is necessary to revise our previous way of Sites designation that have "multiple values" of culture and nature in addition to geomorphology and geology. Until now, Sado Island Geopark has given priority to geological values in designating sites with "multiple values" as "geosites," but looking at other situations, some areas have adopted the method of classifying sites by determining what is particularly major among the multiple values1) or classifying them as "complex sites2).
In this year's conference, among those set as "geosites," there are many sites that have geological value but also other values, such as the "Sado Gold and Silver Mine Site," a nationally designated historic site that produced gold, a benefit of earth activities, and the "Iwayayama Grotto," a sea cave where artifacts from the Jomon to Edo periods were found and it is still used as a place of worship, a prefectural-designated historic site. We would like to discuss how these sites should be set up.
(1) For example, the "Happo-Shirakami Geopark Conservation Plan" of the Happo-Shirakami Geopark Promotion Council (2022)
(2) For example, the "Progress Report" of the Izu Peninsula Geopark Promotion Council (at the time of 2020)