Geodiversity: The Natural Support System of Ecosystems

Geodiversity, the diverse range of properties and processes of the abiotic natural world, provides services which support biodiversity, thus geodiversity is intrinsically linked with ecosystem services (ES). Many countries have adopted strategies and frameworks for identifying sites that exhibit valuable geodiversity and have implemented measures for conserving them, including recognition of their distinctive nature within the planning process. However, there is no international legislation enforcing protection of geodiversity, and since there is much spatial variability in the services provided the responsibility for identifying sites and informing planning policies is often devolved to local bodies. This has resulted in a variety of approaches, so this chapter offers a broad framework for formulating geodiversity action plans, carrying out site audits and assessing the value of sites in terms of their geosystem services. Useful resources for both theoretical and applied geodiversity practice are identified and the examples of geosite assessments in this chapter can be expanded and adapted to suit user requirements in order to demonstrate links to ES and planning.