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Geoheritage and Geoparks: One (Australian) Woman’s Point of View

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Abstract

Geology and landscape profoundly influence society, civilization and cultural diversity on our planet. The subtle relationships between peoples have changed irrevocably since our species began its journey in the Ice Age. The last 10,000 years have been a boom time: we planted crops, domesticated animals and built cities; population burgeoned; and in most places, the link to the land was lost. Important geological places (geosites) help us to rekindle and remember our place. Our geoheritage, now with the added designation of ‘Geoparks’, needs to reflect this intimate relationship: by helping people refind their roots and learning from early and indigenous people through their experiences to answer modern challenges, such as surviving climate change. The Geopark concept has brought economic revitalization to many rural regions, assisting local communities and indigenous populations, and added a new tool for geoconservation. In particular, women are being empowered to pursue new lines of work and to get involved in the Geopark process. Examples from Australian, Chinese, European and Iranian Geoparks show how the Global Geopark Network is supporting UNESCO ideals for women in the twenty-first century. This trend is important because women are traditionally the primary educators of children and they bring different perspectives to understanding geoheritage and to the Geopark process.

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Acknowledgments

My son Guy Thulborn (1986–2012) was with me on many journeys enhancing all. I thank the Australian UNESCO Commission, the Chinese International Committee for Geoparks, the VDT, Professor B. Sun, Lanzhou University, J-C Lin and the Taiwan Government, Professor P. Vickers-Rich for past support; Dr. A. Rozefelds for information on Queensland sites; Alex Ritchie and Sharif Ranjbar for help; and family and friends who helped in the search for special geological places. Tom Hose and one anonymous reviewer provided encouragement and advice for this essay.

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  1. Ancient Environments, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia

    Susan Turner

  2. New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, Canada

    Susan Turner

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Turner, S. Geoheritage and Geoparks: One (Australian) Woman’s Point of View. Geoheritage 5, 249–264 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-013-0085-5

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