3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
[MZZ43-P20] The relationship between 4 key words related to geopark activities and geodiversity
Keywords:Geodiversity, Environment Conservation, Sustainable Development, Biodiversity, Cultural Diversity
[What is geodiversity?]
Geodiversity is defined as below, "Geodiversity: the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil and hydrological features" (Gray, 2013). The term "geodiversity" began to be used in the 1980s in Tasmania, Australia, in landform and landscape conservation activities, and began to attract attention in Japan around 2005 (e.g., Watanabe, 2005). Geodiversity is closely related to the concepts of environmental conservation and sustainable development developed in the latter half of the 20th century, as well as biodiversity and cultural diversity, which are also involved in geoparks. UNESCO strongly encourages geoparks to focus more attention on geodiversity in order to solve various problems facing humanity (UNESCO, 2021).
In this presentation, I will try to explain 4 important key words (environmental conservation, sustainable development, biodiversity, and cultural diversity) related to Geopark activities by using actual examples that can be observed in the Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark (hereinafter, Muroto UGGp) in relation to geodiversity.
[Relationship with environmental conservation and biodiversity]
The biodiversity is supported by the diverse environments produced by geodiversity. The Narashi-Moto beach, an eco-site of Muroto UGGp, is one of the few sandy beaches in Muroto UGGp, and is a loggerhead turtle spawning site representing the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. However, over the past several decades, the beach has shrunk and the number of spawning turtles has decreased.
[Relationship with sustainable development]
Geodiversity includes the diversity of water behavior on the earth surface. The eastern part of the Muroto UGGp receives significantly more precipitation than the western part due to the location of low-pressure that approach and land on the coast. Therefore, landslides occur frequently and repeatedly in the mountainous areas of the Sakihama River basin in the eastern part of the Muroto UGGp. One of the proofs of such disasters is the Kanagi no Tsue, a geological site in the Muroto UGGp.
[Relationship with Cultural Diversity]
In Kochi Prefecture, stone fences made from familiar rocks are often constructed to protect houses from typhoons and other strong winds and rains. In the Kiragawa district in the western part of Muroto UGGp, stone walls called "Ishiguro" were built using beach and terrace gravels. On the other hand, in the Sakihama sistrict, stone walls were constructed using basalt called "Kujiraishi" from the upper Sakihama River basin. The form and color tone of both types of stone walls are very different, and each creates its own unique cultural landscape.
[Summary]
Geodiversity is a key concept at the nexus of environmental conservation, sustainable development, biodiversity, and cultural diversity, and can be considered an identity of Geoparks. For example, the IGGP operational guideline states af follows, "UNESCO Global Geoparks also promote the links between geological heritage and all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, clearly demonstrating that geodiversity is the foundation of all ecosystems and the basis of human interaction with the landscape." However, compared to biodiversity and cultural diversity, the dissemination of geodiversity to the general public has been significantly delayed. This is also true among the Japanese Geopark Network (JGN), where even basic propositions such as "Why is geodiversity important?” are not sufficiently discussed in the JGN. In fact, only three UGGps in Japan (Muroto, Aso and Itoigawa UGGps) took any action around the first International Geodiversity Day (October 6, 2022). In order for "geodiversity" to penetrate the general public, we, geoparks, need to take the lead in promotion activities, as stated in the proclamation for the establishment of the International Geodiversity Day (UNESCO, 2021).
Geodiversity is defined as below, "Geodiversity: the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil and hydrological features" (Gray, 2013). The term "geodiversity" began to be used in the 1980s in Tasmania, Australia, in landform and landscape conservation activities, and began to attract attention in Japan around 2005 (e.g., Watanabe, 2005). Geodiversity is closely related to the concepts of environmental conservation and sustainable development developed in the latter half of the 20th century, as well as biodiversity and cultural diversity, which are also involved in geoparks. UNESCO strongly encourages geoparks to focus more attention on geodiversity in order to solve various problems facing humanity (UNESCO, 2021).
In this presentation, I will try to explain 4 important key words (environmental conservation, sustainable development, biodiversity, and cultural diversity) related to Geopark activities by using actual examples that can be observed in the Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark (hereinafter, Muroto UGGp) in relation to geodiversity.
[Relationship with environmental conservation and biodiversity]
The biodiversity is supported by the diverse environments produced by geodiversity. The Narashi-Moto beach, an eco-site of Muroto UGGp, is one of the few sandy beaches in Muroto UGGp, and is a loggerhead turtle spawning site representing the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. However, over the past several decades, the beach has shrunk and the number of spawning turtles has decreased.
[Relationship with sustainable development]
Geodiversity includes the diversity of water behavior on the earth surface. The eastern part of the Muroto UGGp receives significantly more precipitation than the western part due to the location of low-pressure that approach and land on the coast. Therefore, landslides occur frequently and repeatedly in the mountainous areas of the Sakihama River basin in the eastern part of the Muroto UGGp. One of the proofs of such disasters is the Kanagi no Tsue, a geological site in the Muroto UGGp.
[Relationship with Cultural Diversity]
In Kochi Prefecture, stone fences made from familiar rocks are often constructed to protect houses from typhoons and other strong winds and rains. In the Kiragawa district in the western part of Muroto UGGp, stone walls called "Ishiguro" were built using beach and terrace gravels. On the other hand, in the Sakihama sistrict, stone walls were constructed using basalt called "Kujiraishi" from the upper Sakihama River basin. The form and color tone of both types of stone walls are very different, and each creates its own unique cultural landscape.
[Summary]
Geodiversity is a key concept at the nexus of environmental conservation, sustainable development, biodiversity, and cultural diversity, and can be considered an identity of Geoparks. For example, the IGGP operational guideline states af follows, "UNESCO Global Geoparks also promote the links between geological heritage and all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, clearly demonstrating that geodiversity is the foundation of all ecosystems and the basis of human interaction with the landscape." However, compared to biodiversity and cultural diversity, the dissemination of geodiversity to the general public has been significantly delayed. This is also true among the Japanese Geopark Network (JGN), where even basic propositions such as "Why is geodiversity important?” are not sufficiently discussed in the JGN. In fact, only three UGGps in Japan (Muroto, Aso and Itoigawa UGGps) took any action around the first International Geodiversity Day (October 6, 2022). In order for "geodiversity" to penetrate the general public, we, geoparks, need to take the lead in promotion activities, as stated in the proclamation for the establishment of the International Geodiversity Day (UNESCO, 2021).