Initiatives in other countries

Most developed countries have their own national and sub-national geoconservation systems though their type and effectiveness varies greatly. It is apparent that there is not a uniform approach to the designation of protected areas, with individual countries adopting either a thematic, stratigraphic or category approach to site selection. Some information about conservation initiatives in other countries is given below.

USA
The first national park established anywhere in the world is Yellowstone National Park which was authorized in 1872 by the United States Congress. The creation of this park started the conservation movement throughout the world. 100 years later, America proposed the World Heritage Convention to the international community, and was the first country to ratify it.

Tasmania
The development of geoconservation concepts and management practices in Tasmania, Australia, has been closely linked with the identification and protection of nature conservation values in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). The inundation of the outstanding glacio-fluvial landform of Lake Pedder for hydro-electric development in south-west Tasmania in 1972 was a major event in the history of environmental politics in Australia. In Tasmania it triggered the notion that landforms – and not just living things – should be a major focus of nature conservation.
For more information, go to:
http://www.geoconservation.com/EHWH/Conference/abstracts.htm
#sharple
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/geo/geohist/geohist.html