Threats to geodiversity

There are many threats to geodiversity. The majority of these are generally considered to be human induced. However, natural processes such as erosion, climate change and the dynamic nature of the Earth can also present a threat.

A large number of geological sites or features have been lost, obscured or irreversibly damaged in response to changes in land use and increased urbanisation. In some cases this could have been prevented if adequate consultation had taken place at the planning stage or the importance of protecting geodiversity was made more explicit.

Threats to geodiversity include:

• Coastal protection and coastal erosion
• Waste disposal - land fill
• Mineral/aggregate extraction
• Quarry restoration
• Agriculture
• Land development and urban expansion
• Other land management changes
• Overgrowth of vegetaion
• Recreation and tourism pressures
• Removal of geological specimens - fossil, mineral and rock collecting
• Climate and sea-level change

Geodiversity management homepage

Fossil and mineral collecting

Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs)

Promoting geodiversity

Site management

Other techniques