The term “geoheritage” is applied to geological features and landforms of scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and (or) aesthetic value.  The purpose of the U.S. Advisory Group for Geoheritage is to increase awareness of geoheritage across the United States. Since 2024, this Advisory Group has been based at the Geological Society of America. From its inception in 2016 to 2024, the Advisory Group operated under the auspices of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Previous names for the Group were the “U.S. Advisory Group for Geoheritage and Geoparks” and the “U.S. Geoheritage and Geoparks Advisory Group.” The Group promotes the conservation of significant geosites. It also develops and presents educational workshops, meetings, and publications about geoheritage to advance knowledge of geologic hazards, groundwater, climate change, the evolution of life, mineral and energy supplies, and the Earth’s history. The U.S. Advisory Group on Geoheritage has 14 members and includes representatives from U.S. Federal Agencies (U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service), state geological surveys, academia, non-profits, and the private sector. 
Dr. Thomas Casadevall has chaired the U.S. Advisory Group since 2016. His scientific interests focus on mineral resources related to volcanic environments; on active volcanism and the related hazards; and on geologic heritage with an emphasis on protected volcanic landscapes. He recently completed the report “World Heritage Volcanoes” for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He is also a member of the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas and its Geoheritage Specialist Group.
Dr. Casadevall was the author or co-author of the sections on Tectonic Systems, Volcanic Systems, and Marine Systems in the report “Geological World Heritage: a revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention” [1]. In 2005, IUCN had published a report entitled “Geological World Heritage: A Global Framework” [2]. The aim of that 2005 report was to discuss and advise on the role of the World Heritage Convention in recognising and protecting geological and geomorphological heritage. The 2021 study fully revised and updated the 2005 IUCN report and examined the potential impact of the new UNESCO Global Geopark designation on future inscriptions to the World Heritage List under criterion (viii).

New U.S. Geological Survey project

The U.S. Geological Survey has funded a multi-year project to develop a geoheritage geospatial product to accompany the geologic maps and models of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. The USGS Geoheritage Sites of the Nation project focuses on geoheritage sites and major geological features of the U.S. The project is headed by Christina DeVera (USGS, Reston, VA) and includes investigators from the USGS and collaborators from the National Park Service, American Geoscience Institute, and the Association of American State Geologists.

In April 2023, a 3-day workshop was held in West Virginia to develop protocols for data compilation and standards for site selection. Version 1 of the geoheritage geospatial product, which was published in September 2024 [3] focuses on geosites found on lands managed by the Federal government from all 50 States, four U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. Examples of the project efforts were presented by Christina DeVera at the Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh in October 2023 [4], the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco in December 2023 [5], the International Geological Congress in Busan, South Korea in August 2024 [6], and the GSA Annual Meeting in Anaheim in September 2024 [7, 8, 9].

America’s Geoheritage Initiative 2020-2021

A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which included several members of the Advisory Group on Geoheritage of the U.S. National Committee on Geological Sciences, organized a virtual workshop in 2020-2021 [10] with the following goals: 1) Survey and share current strategies and approaches to identify, inventory, and characterize geoheritage sites across America; 2) Discuss possible protocols, common terminology, and best practices for documenting and developing geoheritage sites; 3) Consider suggestions for future work to encourage development of geoheritage sites as appropriate in local and state settings; 4) Create a community of geoscientists and collaborators from the public and private sectors dedicated to identifying and preserving geoheritage sites across America; and 5) Explore ways to encourage geoscientists, educators, and the general public to use geoheritage sites in their scientific, educational, informational, and leisure activities. David Mogk and Ester Sztein led the organization of the workshop. Other leaders in the workshop included Tom Casadevall, Daniel Tormey, and Timothy Connors.  Among the workshop speakers also was Asier Hilario, President of the IUGS Commission on Geoheritage, who spoke on “Geoheritage and UNESCO Global Geoparks: International Cooperation and Initiatives.”

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Liaison to geoheritage activities in Antarctica

 

Geoheritage activities in Antarctica are managed according to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Priscilla Grew is a Member of the Expert Group on Geological Heritage and Geoconservation (EG-GEOCON) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Additionally, the USGS collaboratively supports scientific research in the Antarctic as a member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program in coordination with the U.S. Antarctic Program to advance the data and information available to the global community and helps maintain scientific programs that support informed decision-making – rooted in the best available science – for effective management of Antarctic resources.

19.03.2025

This description was prepared by Priscilla Grew with input from Tom Casadevall, and it was reviewed by Tom Casadevall, Terri Cook, and Ester Sztein. 

References

[1] Mc Keever, P.J. and Narbonne, G.M. 2021. Geological World Heritage: a revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

[2] Dingwall, P., Weighell, T. and Badman, T., 2005. Geological World Heritage: A global framework. A contribution to the Global Theme Study of World Heritage Natural Sites, IUCN, Gland. https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/12797

[3] DeVera, C.A., Van Sistine, D.P., Henderson, T.C., Casadevall, T.J., and Ruppert, L.F., 2024. Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Data Release: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1QD59CM.

doi: 10.5066/P1QD59CM

[4] DeVera, C.A, VanSistine, D.P., Casadevall, T.J., Ruppert, L.F., 2023. Geoheritage Sites: A Platform for Geologic Storytelling Linked to USGS Geologic Mapping, Abstract 123-13, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 55, No. 6. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2023AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/394206
doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394206

[5] DeVera, C.A., VanSistine, D.P., Casadevall, T.J., Ruppert, L.F., 2023. Poster Abstract SY43F-1098: How the Concept of Geoheritage Can Increase Findability of USGS Geologic Mapping Products. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco. https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm23/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1319510

[6] DeVera, C.A., Van Sistine, D.P., Casadevall, T.J., Henderson, T.C., Ruppert, L.F., 2024. U.S. Geological Survey Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Inventory, Abstract T27-4-4, 37th International Geological Congress, Aug 25-30, 2024, Busan, Republic of Korea. https://www.igc2024korea.org/calenders/16/programs/533.

[7] DeVera, C.A., VanSistine, D.P., Casadevall, T.J., Henderson, T.C., Ruppert, L.F., and 2024, How the USGS is connecting geologic mapping and societal values to reach a broad audience through geoheritage, Abstract 58-14. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. v. 56, no. 5, https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2024AM-402125.

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-402125

[8] Santucci, V.L., Henderson, T.C., DeVera, C.A., Robeck, E.C., Tweet, J.S., Rich, M., 2024, Human dimensions of paleontological heritage: A U.S. National Park Service perspective, Abstract 58-2. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. v. 56, no. 5, https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2024AM-403956.

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-403956

[9] Schuster, R., Wilkins, E.J., Lindley, S.M., Rogers, K., DeVera, C.A., 2024, Values Mapping for Planning in Regional Ecosystems (VaMPIRE), Abstract 58-13.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. v. 56, no. 5, https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2024AM-403262.

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-403262

[10] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. America's Geoheritage II: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America's Natural Legacy: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Ester Sztein and Paula Whitacre, Rapporteurs. https://doi.org/10.17226/26316.