As the world marked International Geodiversity Day, the Open University's PolicyWISE released a new briefing on geodiversity, highlighting the stark contrast between the attention given to geodiversity and its more prominent "sibling"— biodiversity.
Despite geodiversity's fundamental role in shaping ecosystems and supporting life, it continues to receive limited attention from governments and policymakers compared to biodiversity. Since the early 2000s, biodiversity has become a central focus of conservation efforts and ecological research, spurred by influential reports like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. As a result, the term ‘biodiversity’ is now widely recognized in public discourse and policy discussions, giving it a strong "voice." However, ecosystems are made up of both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements.
While biodiversity refers to the former, geodiversity encompasses the latter, including rocks, landforms, soils, water, and dynamic natural processes. This critical interaction between the two is often underappreciated, despite the fact that geodiversity underpins biodiversity.
Geodiversity, which represents the natural variety of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, physical processes), soil, and hydrological features, provides essential "geosystem services." These include regulating water flows, supporting diverse habitats, offering raw materials, inspiring art, and helping us understand Earth’s history.
Geodiversity is the foundation upon which all forms of life depend, yet it remains sidelines in research, policymaking, and public awareness.
The PolicyWISE briefing emphasizes the need for a more holistic approach to nature, one that fully recognizes and integrates the contributions of geodiversity alongside biodiversity in ecosystems. To this end, Geodiversity Charters have been developed to act as focal points for those involved in geosciences, geoheritage, and geoconservation. These charters amplify the voice of geodiversity and ensure it receives the attention it deserves.
The author Elaine Hooton, Postgraduate Researcher at the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Services commented:
“Geodiversity has been referred to as ‘silent nature’ and its role is often taken for granted. But as we seek to develop better understanding of natural systems and encourage people to connect more deeply with nature we’ll really benefit from having a fuller picture of what ‘nature’ is. International Geodiversity Day, like the Charters, is an opportunity to celebrate this ‘silent nature’, bring people together and encourage practices and policies around geodiversity that bring positive change.”
Wales, in particular, has an opportunity to build on the groundwork already laid to establish a Welsh Geodiversity Charter. Such an initiative would bring social, economic, and environmental benefits, as seen in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where Geodiversity Charters are already in place. The briefing also calls for a review and update of the English Geodiversity Charter to maintain its relevance and contribution to policy discussions.
Richard Holliman, one of the supervisors of Elaine’s research and Professor of Engaged Research at the Open University, argues that:
“The Wise in 5 briefing highlights the need for a more comprehensive and up-to-date policy overview of what geodiversity offers the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The briefing, which involved consultation with key constituencies, including representatives from Natural England and the National Trust, demonstrates that we need politicians and policy makers to recognise the fundamental value of geodiversity as the bedrock that underpins biodiversity.”
Charter creation and reviews are important in making geodiversity and geosciences a part of broader conversations on sustainable development, climate action, and nature recovery. This integration would expand geodiversity’s relevance beyond traditional areas like protected sites and resource extraction, positioning it as a key element in addressing today's global challenges.
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