MIS01-01

Room:101B

Time:May 25 09:00-09:30

How can we conserve geology?: a classification of geoconservation methods
GRAY, Murray1∗
1

Reader Emeritus, Queen Mary, University of London, UK

Geoconservation is carried out by a variety of methods, but these have never been systematically classified or compiled into
an organised system. This presentation will seek to do this by proposing a classification involving site management, curation,
licencing, supervision, benevolent ownership, restoration, legislation, policy and education. Examples and applications of themethods will be presented.
Keywords: Geconservation, Legislation, Policy, Planning, Education, Site management

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MIS01-02

Room:101B

Time:May 25 09:30-09:50

Geoconservation in JapanWATANABE, Teiji1∗
1

Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University

A term, geodiversity, was first introduced in Japan in 2004, and then some scientists have gathered to discuss geodiversity
including geoconservation since 2011. Meanwhile, the first academic paper on geoparks was published in 2005, and a notionof geoparks was widespread then. Discussion among the community of geoparks in Japan seems to be somehow weak, mainly
because the community has a variety of tasks to commit. A special issue on geodiversity in an English journal published in Tokyoin 2005 carries s few papers dealing with geoconservation, and another special issue on geodiversity of Hokkaido, northern Japan
published in Sapporo in 2009 contains a few papers on geoconservation issues in Hokkaido. Besides these efforts, actual indepth research on geoconservation is likely to be minimal in Japan so far. Balancing research on geoconservation and researchon geoparks would be one of the issues found in Japan. Japanese academic arena should pay more attentions to emphasize
the necessity in lectures at a university level. At the same time, a responsible ministry (most probably, the Ministry of theEnvironment) should be convinced of the merits of developing a notion of geodiversity conservation in Japan, as they have beenaddressing biodiversity conservation as a national strategy.
Keywords: geodiversity, geoconservation, geopark

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MIS01-03

Room:101B

Time:May 25 09:50-10:10

Geoconservation’s Dilemma: How to Value Diversity Itself for Conservation Benefits
CHAKRABORTY, Abhik1∗
1Izu Peninsula Geopark Promotion Council

This paper critically analyzes two fundamental questions: why is geoconservation important and how to ground this concept
in practice. Geoconservation differs from other conservation frameworks because it focuses on the diversity of the abiotic environment. Most conservation discourses focus on the biotic environment and on specific flagship species. Geoconservation inthis sense is more holistic as a conservation framework, it holds that the abiotic diversity in itself is important for the well-beingof the planet. However this concept is weakly integrated in praxis. Furthermore as the case studies reveal; geoconservation inpractice tends to focus disproportionately on specific landforms (volcanic or natural hazard related) that are considered uniquelyvaluable, and less commonly values diversity itself. This is a natural result of stakeholder dynamics and institutionalism in nature
governance, but it also poses a fundamental problem for geoconservation. This paper discusses case studies of the Izu Peninsula,
Minami Alps, Hakusan Reserve, and Kamikochi National Park, and argues through these case studies how an alternative framework of diversity evaluation can provide better conservation benefits.
Keywords: Geoconservation, holistic conservation, diversity, case study

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MIS01-04

Room:101B

Time:May 25 10:10-10:25

Conservation of geoheritage in tectonically active and intensely denuded region
MOKUDAI, Kuniyasu1∗
1

Pro Natura Foundation JapanThe Japanese islands is one of the most tectonically active and intensely denuded regions on the planet, and therefore is aregion with a very high natural hazard frequency. Many of the land features and soil strata are proofs of disturbances in thenatural environment due to the tectonic and denudation related mechanisms. Naturally these land features are related to natural
hazards that either occurred in the past or are likely to occur in the future. Engineering solutions that seek to prevent natural
disasters are a natural response of the society, but many of such disaster prevention schemes cause significant damage to theland formation or landscape change mechanisms that are fundamental to the geological heritage of geologically active regions.
Geoconservation in such tectonically active and aggressively denuded areas therefore needs to have a different approach from
geoconservation in tectonically stable continental locations.
Keywords: geoconservation, natural hazard, landform, mass movement, sustainable development, soil and water conservation

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MIS01-05

Room:101B

Time:May 25 10:25-10:45

Japanese Geopark activity: its history and role in sustainable development of local community.
WATANABE, Mahito1∗
1

Geological Survey of Japan, AIST

Promotion of geopark concept by Japanese scientists began in 2004. Through the symposiums and workshops held by them,strong movement to establish geopaks in Japan gradually activated from 2007 by local people in several areas where they had
been making an effort to conserve and promote geological heritages for years. Responding the movement of these people, JapanGeopark Committee (JGC) was established in 2008 to evaluate aspiring geoparks in Japan.
JGC decided first three candidate areas to apply for Global Geoparks Network (GGN) from Japan in October 2008 and endorsed first seven national (domestic) geoparks including above mentioned three candidates for GGN in December 2008. The
JGC played an crucial role to expand the concept of geopark that includes the idea of geoconservation and to launch geopark
projects in Japan. It was top-down movement from the academic side. On the other hand the bottom-up network activity of
the Japanese Geoparks Network (JGN), which was established in February 2009 by the seven first national geoparks in Japan,
have been becoming active recent few years. Now evaluation of geoparks are conducted both JGC and JGN members. JGC andmember geoparks of JGN have been playing an important role in conserving geodiversity, promoting geoheritages, disseminationof knowledge for disaster prevention, and also sustainable economic development through geotourism. Both top-down academic
movement and bottom-up local movement now work together to establish sustainable local society.

Keywords: Geoconservation, sustainable development, Geopark, local community

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MIS01-06

Room:101B

Time:May 25 11:00-11:20

Geoconservation and Sustainable Development in Langkawi: Opportunities and Obstacles for Geopark Rangers
JONES, Thomas1∗
1Graduate School of Governance Studies, Meiji University

This paper analyses the opportunities and obstacles for Geopark Rangers at Langkawi, Malaysia. Since the Langkawi
archipelago became a duty-free destination in 1987, the number of annual visitors has increased rapidly and now numbers
over three million. The certification of Langkawi as the first Global Geopark in Southeast Asia in 2006 was thus part of abroader strategy implemented by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) to reposition the island’s rapid development
along a more sustainable trajectory. A new geopark ranger system was introduced to encourage sustainable tourism via threeservice missions: enforcement of regulations, conservation and maintenance. This research examines the role of the rangers,
investigating the set-up, current state and challenges faced by the ranger system. A mixed method approach combined primarydata from interviews with the rangers’ monthly report and log books (January to July 2013) at three geoforest areas that represent the geopark core zones. Findings detail the set-up process of the ranger system, from design in 2011 under the Tourism
Blueprint through to implementation in 2012. Currently there are twelve rangers within the LADA Geopark Division, but the age
range (19-27) reveals most to be high school graduates with little specialist knowledge of nature parks or visitor management.
Analysis of primary data shows damage reports and maintenance issues to be most frequent, with little evidence of conservationand emergency reports. Challenges were identified as job conditions and organizational capacity of ranger personnel along withinter-organizational collaboration. The Langkawi case provides insight into the new ranger system as a means of regulating
visitor flows within geopark core zones toward sustainable development.
Keywords: Geoconservation, Sustainable Development, Langkawi Global Geopark, Geopark Ranger, Regulation, Visitor Management

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MIS01-07

Room:101B

Time:May 25 11:20-11:35

Conservation and Interpretation of Natural Forests from Global Geopark Program
YUHORA, Kazuhiro1∗ ; SHIRAI, Takaaki1
1

MUROTO Geopark Promotion Committee

Muroto Geopark became a Global Geoparks Network Member in 2011. This recognition actually paved the way to explore
different aspects of nature through media coverage. Not only limited to geology these include natural aspects that were notadequately focused upon earlier. A notable case is the natural colony of giant Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trees
located in Dannotaniyama . This colony was protected as a part of a national forest area but increased media coverage coupledwith strong citizen advocacy led to the designation of ’protected forest’ in October 2012 (by MAFF and Muroto City). In 2014,
local residents formed a guiding group called DANSUGIKAI. This group is conducting various activities like educating people
about the geological origin of Muroto cape, conservation of the mountains and of course, preservation of this natural forest. Allof this actually became possible after Muroto became recognized as a geopark, so geopark activities became directly related toconservation in this case. Especially the ’Global’ geopark recognition acted as a stimulant in local residents, who successfullysought expression in different types of nature related activities, such as this example of forest conservation.

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