Geoconservation strategies framework in Brazil: Current status from the analysis of representative case studies

Achieving an effective management of geodiversity and geoheritage demands integrative, multidisciplinary approaches in different spheres. This mission is enlarged if taking into account the role of these elements in the maintenance of ecosystems and associated goods and services, and the huge responsibility of geoscientists on the dissemination of trustful information that can help people to deal with current socio-environmental issues. The status of geoconservation initiatives in a given territory depend on several aspects. It can be a challenge in developing countries where nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources may be taken as less relevant in face of major, more urgent topics. We present a three-module geoconservation framework aiming to contemplate essential steps for geoconservation strategies named: 1. diagnosis, 2. conservation and 3. promotion. On its basis we analysed six Brazilian case studies to identify strengths and weaknesses and to evaluate the role of these methods in the whole geoconservation chain. Our data indicate that the items related to the diagnosis and promotion are the most prevalent, but conservation represents the main weakness, particularly legal protection, geosite conservation and monitoring. This results from the fact that most of the people involved in diagnosis and promotion are geoscientists with multidisciplinary skills and expertise, whilst conservation involves the participation of national or local government administrators and the existence of adequate legislation. This brings light to the need of an integrated approach including cooperation between academia, public administrations and society in the proposition of fair environmental practices in the conservation of geoheritage. •Observation of frameworks can bring more quality to geoconservation strategies.•Diagnosis and Promotion steps are more prevalent than Conservation.•Legal protection is the weakest link.•Cooperation between academia, public administrations and society is essential.