Publications 

This book explores one of the world’s most striking red bed sandstone landscapes—Danxiashan—which was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004 and inscribed as part of the serial World Heritage property" China Danxia" in 2010." China Danxia" refers to a distinctive type of landscape formed on continental red terrigenous sedimentary rocks, shaped by internal geological forces such as tectonic uplift and external processes including weathering and erosion. Danxiashan is...

Indigenous lands in Central West Mato Grosso, Brazil, face significant threats from infrastructure projects, agricultural expansion, and illegal mining. This study evaluates risks of these, and other threats, to the integrity and geomorphic functions of geocultural sites in three Indigenous Territories (ITs): Tirecatinga, Irantxe, and Utiariti. We characterised site degradation and threats, applied threat assessment tools, and conducted a risk evaluation for these territories. Primary and secondary data, including oral histories from...

Geodiversity has gained increasing attention, prompting geoscientists to advocate for its recognition to promote holistic nature conservation. UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) have expanded globally, promoting geoheritage and contributing to geoconservation and sustainable tourism. In this framework, the IGCP 714 project, "3GEO – Geoclimbing & Geotrekking in Geoparks," launched in 2021, aims to use Geographical Information Technologies (GIT) – including GIS, remote sensing, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and...

The integration of geodiversity elements and contexts into fire management frameworks remains limited due to a lack of actionable tools for assessing geosite sensitivity. This study addresses this gap by developing and testing a mechanistic model to evaluate soil and lithological fire sensitivity, using a geodiversity database of Tasmanian geosites at various temperature thresholds. Initial results indicate the utility of the approach to distinguish between sensitive and robust geosites, providing a simple delineation between the...

Geotrails serve as educational journeys that highlight significant geodiversity and cultural heritage, offering recreational and interpretive experiences in a range of constructed and natural environments. There is a growing need for objective methods to support decision-making in geotrail design. The Least-Cost Path (LCP) method, a resistance-based model...

The importance given to geotourism reflects public awareness of the urgency of environmental conservation that includes geomorphological, ecological, and cultural knowledge. The recent growth of geotourism has increased the demand for high-quality geotourism interpretation to ensure accurate data communication. Nonetheless, the lack of systematic t...

Geodiversity features prominently in cultural heritage. However, there is a scarcity of studies that consider geocultural values of geodiversity in academic literature in the global south, in part due to the legacies of colonialism, distrust, and loss of connection to landscape by younger First Nations peoples. A lack of known geocultural values can affect conservation efforts and impede efforts by Indigenous Peoples to use their lands in accordance with their values and desires for social, ethical, environmental and economic autonomy. As part of...

The IGCP 714 project “3GEO – Geoclimbing & Geotrekking in Geoparks” is financed by the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and supported by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). In this paper, we report on the results of the first phase of the project focused on the criteria to be adopted to select geodiversity sites equipped...

Geotourism focuses on an areas’ geodiversity and cultural landscape to provide visitor engagement, learning, and enjoyment. Geotourism is pivotal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as recognised by the United Nations. This study examines the development of the Australian Geotourism Discovery Portal (AGDP) and its role in...

Geodiversity elements contribute significantly to local and global hydrological, biogeochemical and ecosystem services and as such, fire is a potentially disruptive force with long-term implications. from limiting karstic speleothems formation, to compounding impacts of peat-fire-erosion cycles. Geodiversity elements additionally possess important cultural, aesthetic, and environmental values, including the support of ecosystem services. Hence, assessments of potential fire damage should consider implications for land users, society...

Ecotourism interpretation pertains to vital public education regarding environmental conservation. At present, there is no professional standard or system for interpretation in this domain, which potentially hinders the goals of geoheritage, and species preservation. To address this shortcoming, two categories of ecotourism (flora and fauna), are selected and broken down into the three main interpretation issues: common biotic names, local Chinese biotic terms, and ecological processes...

Ecological value (ECOL) Aesthetic value (AEST) Cultural value (CULT) Visit conditions Accessibility Security Site context Tourism infrastructures Education Interpretive facilities Education interest

Wild areas provide a wide array of recreational opportunities in nature, including informal camping. We examined the potential for land degradation associated with informal campsites accessible by vehicle on the margins of the wild country on the Central Plateau of Tasmania, where alpine and sub‐alpine ecosystems with numerous glacial and periglacial wetlands...

​

​

The global growth of geotourism has increased the demand and quality for geotourism interpretation. However, in its pioneer stage, geotourism interpretation has much ineffective interpretation, which hinders the informative purpose of geotourism. Moreover, geotourism interpretation lacks a systematic quality evaluation model. Such a model is essent...

The Principles of Geotourism (1991), compiled by Anze Chen, Yunting Lu, et al. of China Tourism Earth-science Research Association, is a summary of research findings of several 100 members of the Association in five years since its establishment, as well as a pioneering move of China’s earth-science workers to serve tourism and apply the theories and methods of earth-science to tourism. It basically reflects China’s research level of contemporary tourism earth-science. The publication of this work is of significance for both the earth-science...

Very few multi-species or ecosystem comparisons of post-fire vertebrate herbivore activity and food preference exist to inform fire management and conservation strategies. We inferred post-fire (1–3 years) native and introduced vertebrate herbivore activity and attraction to six diverse temperate vegetation communities (grassland to rainforest) from scat counts. We hypothesised that where fire reduced herbaceous and grassy vegetation (‘fodder’), vertebrate herbivores would decline, and that post-fire preferences of native...

The steady growth of geotourism is increasing the demand for geotourism translation. Because in China geotourism is implemented mainly on the basis of geoparks and this study is Chinese to English (C-E) language based, this review uses Chinese UNESCO Global geopark data to explore the current status of geotourism translation. This comprehensive lit...

Sustainability Matters:
Higher education;
Health status (incl. wellbeing);
Environmentally sustainable information and communication services not elsewhere classified

As a new field of translation with its own special genre, geotourism has not yet been firmly established because geotourism translations are currently not of a sufficient professional standard. This situation does not provide geotourists with the genre’s full target of enjoyment, learning and engagement through science popularisation tourism activi...

Geoconservation is, at its foundation, a grass-roots movement with geoheritage represented by geosites containing the most scientifically significant and valuable geodiversity elements. Problems arise in the assessment and communication of inventory due in part to inconsistent and traditionally time-consuming, ‘snapshot’ assessments that are difficult to spatially monitor.
The case study of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the encompassing IUCN Category II Wellington Park Reserve...

This article describes the formation of The Tasmanian Historical Dataset a longitudinal data resource spanning the 19th and early 20th century. This resource contains over 1.6 million records drawn from digitised prison and hospital admission registers, military enlistment papers, births, deaths and marriages, census and muster records, arrival and departure lists, bank accounts and property valuations, maps and plans and meteorological observations. As well as providing an account of the many different sources that have been digitised...

The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed Bridgewater Bridge on Geodiversity values in the vicinity of the development. The project is approximately 20km north of Hobart, traversing the Derwent River adjacent to the existing bridge between Granton and Bridgewater. This report has been prepared to respond to Section 4.9 (Geoconservation) of the Assessment
Criteria – New Bridgewater Bridge Major Project (May 2021), which are as follows...

In this presentation, I present three case studies of Australian geodiversity. I first explore a regional interpretation of geodiversity, in a spatially-heterogenous protected area in Tasmania - a place that has myriad unique superlative natural values. I demonstrate that the delineation between elements of geodiversity is supported by a geological framework, that facilitates adequate rank comparisons of similar landforms and/or geological types across variable topography and vegetation communities. I then demonstrate the challenges associated with...

The purpose of this report is to detail the workflow, processes and relative success of using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) instruments to determine organic soil depth in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWHAA). Sites were strategically selected for their range of vegetation communities, altitude and aspects, geological substrates and natural values, in which to compare traditional hand-excavated and visual assessments of soil characteristics and depth to new, non-destructive GPR methods.

This paper documents the experiences of researchers and practitioners working in protected areas governance and management, geoconservation and geotourism, via semi-structured interviews of 30 geoheritage and geoparks researchers and practitioners. Using narrative discourse, we identified a number of challenges and barriers in conserving, practicing and managing geoheritage and geoparks. Divergence in the acceptance of geodiversity as a concept appears most preventative to the discipline in the areas of research/scholarship...

In this paper, we review the progress on the use of GIT tools in geoheritage and geotourism to date, highlighting current gaps in practice. By way of an interview of prominent global geoconservation and geotourism professionals conducted in 2018, we show that approximately 25% of the surveyed workforce use some type of GIT tool to aid in decision support, decision making, or for communication(s) of inventory elements and features of interest. Upon review of the literature, it appears that the vast majority of tools are used...

Using the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis) method and a quasi-metanalytical approach, we reviewed the seminal ~299 papers pertaining to gorse management. We identified (i) the ecological characteristics of the species that predispose gorse to behaving invasively, and (ii) the success of management actions (from a plant ecological life history perspective) in reducing weed vigour and impact. A broad ecological niche, high reproductive output, propagule persistence, and low vulnerability...

This paper presents findings from a critical literature review of 299 academic journal articles and texts that define geodiversity values, or otherwise incorporate geodiversity or its derived elements and values as components of conservation. Contrary to previous suggestions, we have found that most geoscientists have united behind a single definition of geodiversity and applied it frequently in their primary and applied, geotouristic, research. Qualitative elements of geodiversity, including system support values and aesthetic appeals within...

Geotourism is a new, emerging scientific discipline by applying the principles of earth science in the study of natural and human tourism resources. It involves the principles and methodologies of art, landscape architecture, environmental science and tourism in dealing with earth science issues of tourism activities and provides guidance to the es...

Conservation of novel, representative and diverse landforms, rocks and soils is termed ‘Geoheritage Conservation.’ Conservation of geoheritage is both popular and supported by robust assessment criteria in parts of Europe and China, where preservation occurs in UNESCO and local geoparks and via formalised inventory listings and conservation covenants. As geoheritage conservation expands as a discipline globally, it has become apparent that new tools are required to assist practitioners and researchers to communicate, remotely assess and detect...

As we move into the Anthropocene, it has become more important than ever to identify and conserve notable geological and geographic features and processes of scientific, educational, cultural or aesthetic value. ‘Geoheritage conservation’ is the process by which significant geology and landform processes are recognised and protected. Yet geoheritage assessment criteria are diverse and sometimes subjective, and the emerging cohort of geoconservationists still face challenges in dealing with a lack of repeatable and robust methodologies.

Tasmania is an Australian island state with incredible geodiversity, second only to Scotland. State geoheritage conservation frameworks recognise over 1100 geosites of from sub-regional through to international significance. Tasmania is famous for hosting the world‘s largest exposure of dolerite, providing substantial evidence of continental drift and plate tectonics through its occurrence in the former Gondwanan supercontinent. Mount Wellington and the encompassing Wellington Park (250 km2) is a well expressed and accessible...

This study combined analysis of the University’s database of researchers active in the Environment, Resources and Sustainability (ERS) Theme area with a survey of 112 UTAS staff active in ERS research to understand the capacities of the ERS Theme and identify the most effective activities the Theme could undertake to encourage greater success in large research grant applications. The analysis identified factors that currently constrain collaboration with other researchers and engagement with stakeholders, essential features of interdisciplinary...

Healthy soil is of primary importance for sustainable vegetable production. Soil biology drives many of the soil processes that are critical to crop productivity, including deleterious effects associated with pests and diseases. While soil health is a much-studied field, most research has focused on soil biota and soil physical factors with little attention on the interaction between crops and the soil biology. Plant roots are the first sites of interaction between the plant system and soil biology, and their position at this interface potentially provides a direct measure of soil...

An Introduction to Tourism Earth-science (Chinese Version, 1991) is a summary of the research findings of the Chinese Academy of Tourism Earth-science and Geopark Research since its establishment in 2009, as well as that of China’s tourism earth-science circle. It marks a new stage in the development of China’s tourism earth-science research. Howev...

China is vast in area and rich in tourism resources. However, for some historical reasons, not adequate attention was paid to tourism in the past, therefore considerable potential tourism resources have not been discovered and the resources already discovered have not been properly developed and fully utilized. With the rapid development of tourism...
View

Scenery is defined both in broad and narrow senses. Scenery in broad sense refers to all beautiful natural landscapes or environments in which natural and cultural landscapes combine with each other, e.g. views hundreds of miles away, bridges and rivers ahead of courtyards; scenery in narrow sense usually refers to traditional scenic areas consisti...

Every science has its unique research objects. Tourism earth-science is no exception. Its research objects differ from those of geology, geography and tourism science, but also interact as both cause and effect with those of the aforesaid disciplines due to the characteristics of it as a marginal discipline. Despite insufficient understanding about...

It has been proved that the recognition, exploitation and utilization of tourism resources are inseparable from earth-science. However, at present relevant literature seldom discusses characteristics of tourism resources exclusively from the earthscientific perspective, but just touches upon earth-science in the discussion on tourism or features of...

Tourism environments are the sum of all external conditions of tourist activities, including social and political environment, natural eco-environment, tourism atmosphere environment and tourism resources.

Natural tourism resources are natural landscapes and natural environments available for enjoyment by man. They reside in a certain spatial position, specific formation conditions and historical evolution stages of nature.

As an innovative type of tourism destination in China emerging at the very beginning of the twenty-first century, geoparks are landmarks in the history of tourism earth-science (Chen 1998) functioning as newborn children in a new era. The birth of geoparks created a solid foundation for tourism earth-science in both theoretical research and policy...

Tourism is a huge social systematic project comprising tourism demand and supply systems and many subsystems, such as tourism regional system, tourism market system, tourism service system, tourism goods system and tourism education system. These parts, which are interdependent and infiltrate and constrain each other, constitute a complicated touri...

Although cultural tourism resources are a result of man’s cultural activities over time, their formation and distribution depend largely on natural environments and such factors as history, nations and ideology. Therefore, the territorial rules of the generation, development and distribution of cultural tourism resources are also research objects of tourism earth-science workers by virtue of the principles and methods of geology and geography. In this book, we just analyse the conditions in China

Although tourism planning is a part of the general strategic planning system of the state, its complexity, hierarchy and scientific involvement are rarely found in other departmental planning, because, as a comprehensive undertaking, tourism have both its economic implications and its cultural contents. Economically, tourism involves industry, agri...

Research Objects, Tasks and Historical Development of Tourism.- Role of Tourism Earthscience in Tourism Development.- Basic Formation Conditions of Natural Tourism Resources.- Earthscientific Formation Conditions of Cultural Tourism Resources.- Earthscientific Characteristics of Tourism Resources.- Principles of Aesthetic Appreciation of Sceneries....

We examined associations between two psychological constructs, analytic cognitive style and the personality facet ‘Openness to Experience’, and several dimensions of religiosity: religious affiliation, strength of faith and spiritual epistemology. In a relatively large (N = 1093), older community sample (M = 55.4 years), analytic cognitive style was associated with a...

Fish use of saltmarsh varies spatially, temporally, and with environmental conditions. The specific impact of these effects on fish assemblages in southern temperate Tasmania, Australia—the only mangrove-free Australian state—is as yet largely unknown. Seasonal variation in fish abundance, richness, diversity, and size was investigated in succulent...

A NGO can be extremely useful in assisting the government in the development of geopark and the promotion of geological conservation. The example of Hong Kong demonstrates the flexibility, efficiency and professionalism of a NGO which reinforces the government's determination to make possible the establishment of a geopark in Hong Kong. The NGO

​

An outstanding collection of international case studies that provide insight into and suggest best practice for issues such as conservation, risk management, education, marketing, interpretation and technology of actual and developing geotourism sites.

This chapter describes the issues and processes surrounding the development of the Hong Kong geopark and provides a brief account of the main geotourism resources of Hong Kong. The possibility of establishing a volcanic geopark in Hong Kong was first mentioned in a seminar at the Hong Kong University in 2005 by some Chinese geologists. However, the..

Hexagonal columns (columnar joints) of Cretaceous High Island Formation (Kkh) volcanic rocks make up the key landscape of the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region in southern Hong Kong National Geopark, but whether they belong to lava or pyroclastic rock has been disputing. On the basis of field geological investigation and rock thin section observation,...

Geodiversity refers to the diversity (or variety, range) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landform) and soil features, and their assemblages, relationships, processes, properties, interpretations and systems. Despite there is a limited area of 1108 km, Hong Kong has a remarkably rich geodiversity that includes diversified...