Geoconservation principles and protected area management

Geoconservation includes the protection of geoheritage features and geosites and the application of geoconservation principles more generally in the sustainable management of protected areas and in the wider landscape. This article reviews: 1) geoconservation principles and objectives for geosite management planning; and 2) the wider relevance of geoconservation and how the application of geoconservation principles across the full range of IUCN protected area management categories, UNESCO Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites, Ramsar sites and marine protected areas would benefit conservation of biodiversity and geodiversity and support wider nature conservation objectives, including climate change adaptation, connecting people and nature and sustainable development. In particular, the concepts of ‘nature and people’ and ‘conserving nature's stage’ provide opportunities for developing more holistic approaches to nature conservation.