Geoheritage and Geoconservation of Quaternary Geosites
A special issue of Quaternary (ISSN 2571-550X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 1851
Special Issue Editor
Interests: Raman spectroscopy; geochemistry; source-to-sink sedimentary dynamics; environmental mineralogy; mineral pigments; geoheritage and geotourism; earth degassing; planetary mineralogy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Geodiversity represents a critical component of natural systems, and, similar to the intrinsic value of flora and fauna, the conservation of abiotic features warrants significant attention. The preservation of Quaternary geosites, whether of international, national, or local significance, is essential for fostering scientific inquiry and educational initiatives, thereby benefiting both current investigations and future research endeavors.
This initiative necessitates the establishment of innovative methodologies and theoretical frameworks, as well as the education and training of emerging scientists. Quaternary geosites encompass reference localities associated with specific geological time periods or events, alongside sites for sediments, landforms, deposits, or fossils that indicate historical environmental conditions.
These geosites may exemplify distinct epochs in Earth's Quaternary history and illustrate unique geomorphological processes and landforms, including prominent features and landscapes frequently cited in the scholarly literature.
Beyond their scientific relevance, Quaternary geosites may possess cultural significance, serving as locations where geological features or landscapes are intertwined with historical or cultural narratives that have substantial connections to archaeology. Aesthetically significant geosites are characterized by visually appealing natural features or landscapes, rendering many of these locations as popular with tourists and as contributors of economic benefits.
Geodiversity plays an integral role in ecosystems, wherein biotic and abiotic components interact to form cohesive systems. Most species, including those that are neither rare nor specialized, depend on the abiotic conditions of their environment. A notable relationship exists among flora, fauna, soil, underlying geology, topography, and hydrology, which collaborates to support growth and survival.
Furthermore, geodiversity provides numerous environmental goods and ecosystem services, offering valuable economic, social, and environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration, water quality regulation, natural coastal defense mechanisms, and recreational opportunities. A comprehensive understanding of Quaternary geodiversity and advancements in Quaternary science are imperative for society to address natural hazards effectively and to manage land and water resources while utilizing data concerning climate and environmental changes and evaluating historical human impacts. Although geoconservation primarily emphasizes geosites, it may also encompass museum collections and specimens, such as fossils.
Quaternary geosites include both small but scientifically significant areas, such as abandoned quarries or coastal exposures, and larger regions characterized by notable landforms.
This Special Issue, ‘Geoheritage and Geoconservation of Quaternary Geosites’, aims to present a compilation of scholarly articles focusing on original research regarding theoretical perspectives and classifications, geomorphosites, methodologies for assessing geodiversity in the context of climate change, and studies linking geoheritage to human history and cultural heritage, as well as matters pertaining to geoparks, geoheritage conservation, management and promotion, geotourism practices and potential, and other relevant themes within these domains.
Dr. Sebastiano Ettore Spoto
Guest Editor
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. Quaternary is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 1600 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
- geoheritage
- geological and geomorphological sites
- geoconservation
- quaternary geology
- quaternary palaeontology collections
- gemmology
- quaternary volcanism
- fluvial and landscape evolution
- archaeological stratigraphy
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