Weekend workshop

'Involving people in geodiversity'

The importance of geodiversity, however, and its benefits to people are often overlooked. Not only does geodiversity offer practical benefits, for example the provision of resources and materials such as coal, iron and building stone, but it also shapes the landscape around us, influencing the habitats and species we see and creating scenery and geological attractions admired and visited by many people. Geodiversity has an educational value, allowing us to understand the evolution and history of the planet, and to interpret present and future processes by reconstructing the past. It also has a cultural role to play, from its inspiration on art, such as poetry, music and painting, to its significance in folklore, and in providing a sense of place and identity for local communities.

The 'Earth heritage: World heritage' conference held in Wareham, Dorset in September 2004, held a two-day workshop that discussed how we involve people in geodiversity, and provided an opportunity for delegates to share experience and best practice through the presentation and discussion of case studies and examples.

Delegates attending the workshop included those involved in the management and promotion of geological sites, including representatives from World Heritage Sites and tourist attractions with a geological focus, those working to promote the importance of geodiversity through education and interpretation initiatives, those interested in raising the profile of geoconservation, and those looking at ways to identify and make use of the links between cultural and geological diversity. The case studies and examples presented considered three simple questions: 'What works?', 'What doesn't work?' and 'What could we do better?'

These questions were addressed under four themes: geotourism, education and interpretation, geoconservation, and cultural heritage. These themes explored topics such as the opportunities that geotourism offers to bring in visitors and the need for this to be achieved sustainably; the links between geodiversity and cultural heritage through factors such as industrial heritage and landscape character; interpreting geodiversity for all and how the presentation of geodiversity affects the way it is perceived and valued; and mechanisms for engaging people and communities in geodiversity and geoconservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of geological resources.

Cultural heritage

Education and interpretation

Geotourism

Conservation

A short guidance, based on the discussions and summaries of the presentations, was published in September 2005. Aimed at a wide audience, from the policy maker to the general public, the guidance highlights best practice and provides practical examples to help those involved or potentially involved in geodiversity.