[O08-P11] Method for resetting geosites and their use in Sado Island Geopark
Keywords:Sado Island, geopark, geotourism, geosite, geological heritage
In recent years, in geoparks in Japan, a definite policy for the classification and definition of sites has been announced by the Japan Geopark Committee.In Sado Island Geopark, all the places of interest have so far been identified with the term ‘geo point’. On this point, in the evaluation report of Sado Island Geopark of 2017, it was pointed out that it is necessary to reclassify all 237 geo points into the geological sites, natural (ecological) sites and cultural sites, as advocated by the UNESCO Global Geoparks.
Based on this recommendation, we created a ‘comprehensive geosite setting plan’ which contains all criteria and procedures such as how to reclassify the geo points into geosites. We are now working on resetting the 237 geo points as geosites.
Two criteria were established in this above-mentioned plan in order to reset geo points as geosites.
The first criterion is for selecting geosites with geoscientific value from geo points, which include sites which also have natural (ecological) and cultural value besides geological value.
The second criterion is whether selected geosites are suitable for actual utilization. Regarding this actual utilization, we established three categories which are ‘for research’, ‘for learning’ and ‘for general purposes (tourism)’ to classify geosites.
Among the selected geosites, those that fit into all three categories will be introduced on our website and in the brochure, and will also be used for sightseeing.
In this presentation, we will describe the geosite resetting method in Sado Island Geopark, introduce the geosites finally chosen, and discuss the utilization of geosites and the challenges that arise from resetting them.
Based on this recommendation, we created a ‘comprehensive geosite setting plan’ which contains all criteria and procedures such as how to reclassify the geo points into geosites. We are now working on resetting the 237 geo points as geosites.
Two criteria were established in this above-mentioned plan in order to reset geo points as geosites.
The first criterion is for selecting geosites with geoscientific value from geo points, which include sites which also have natural (ecological) and cultural value besides geological value.
The second criterion is whether selected geosites are suitable for actual utilization. Regarding this actual utilization, we established three categories which are ‘for research’, ‘for learning’ and ‘for general purposes (tourism)’ to classify geosites.
Among the selected geosites, those that fit into all three categories will be introduced on our website and in the brochure, and will also be used for sightseeing.
In this presentation, we will describe the geosite resetting method in Sado Island Geopark, introduce the geosites finally chosen, and discuss the utilization of geosites and the challenges that arise from resetting them.