Geosciences and the Abiotic Foundations of Sustainability and Resilience
A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 453
Special Issue Editors
Interests: palaeoenvironment; geoheritage; geodiversity; geotourism; geoconservation; geoeducation; geoethics; geoparks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: geoparks; geoethics; (geo)environmental education; geoliteracy; geoheritage; geoconservation; geodiversity; Anthropocene
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Earth functions as a dynamic and interconnected system in which biotic and abiotic components interact to sustain biodiversity, geodiversity, and life-supporting processes. Geosciences play a central role in understanding these interactions, informing the interpretation of Earth systems and the management of natural resources, and addressing environmental risks. In the Anthropocene, growing environmental pressures challenge the stability and resilience of this system. In this context, geoconservation has emerged to protect geological heritage and promote the sustainable management of geodiversity. Despite its fundamental importance for ecosystems, landscapes, and human well-being, geodiversity remains underrepresented in conservation discourse. Increasingly, it is recognized as a foundational dimension of nature, reflected in research on geoheritage, geosystem services, geotourism, geoeducation, and geoethics, and in initiatives such as UNESCO Global Geoparks and beyond.
This Special Issue aims to highlight and advance research on the abiotic dimension of the Earth system, emphasizing its scientific, educational, cultural, and societal relevance. We welcome original research articles, reviews, case studies, and conceptual contributions that explore geodiversity and geoheritage within both theoretical and applied contexts.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Geodiversity assessment and conservation.
- Geoheritage and geosite management.
- Geosystem services and landscape values.
- Geotourism and sustainable development.
- Geoeducation and public engagement with geosciences.
- Geoethics and responsible geoscience practice.
- The role of UNESCO Global Geoparks in sustainability and resilience.
We invite researchers, practitioners, and educators from diverse disciplines to contribute to this Special Issue and help advance understanding of the vital role of geosciences in promoting sustainable, resilient, and responsible stewardship of the Earth’s geological heritage.
Prof. Dr. Hara Drinia
Guest Editor
Dr. Alexandros Aristotelis Koupatsiaris
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- geodiversity
- geoheritage
- geoconservation
- geosystem services
- geosciences
- geoparks
- geotourism
- geoeducation
- geoethics
- geoliteracy
- sustainability
- resilience
- Anthropocene
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