Study concludes that much of Africa's geological heritage is yet to be disclosed
Over the course of two years, the researchers studied around two and a half hundred documents relating to the geodiversity of the African continent.
A study carried out by two researchers of the University of Coimbra (UC) has concluded that most part of Africa’s geological heritage remains to be disclosed, and argues that it is urgent to change this, in order to attract investment in the area of geotourism that promotes the economic and social development of African communities
In this study, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Keynesménio Neto and Maria Helena Henriques, from the Geosciences Centre of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), present an exhaustive analysis of the current knowledge about the geological heritage of Africa. Over two years, the researchers studied about two and a half hundred documents on the geodiversity of the African continent. The conclusions of the study have been published in the journal Gondwana Research.
English version: Diana Taborda
According to the authors, the results obtained “reveal the areas in which the geological heritage remains unknown. Mapping and evaluating them is the necessary basis for attracting investment in the area of geotourism, which may help to improve living conditions in African countries with low levels of development”.
«Africa is the craddle of humankind, with a biodiversity richness that floods countless TV documentaries. However, its geological heritage - with records over 4 billion years old - remains undiscovered and unexplored”, claim Keynesménio Neto and Maria Helena Henriques.
Thus, the FCTUC researchers claim that it is urgent to study and disseminate Africa's geological heritage. This requires inventory and evaluation of geosites with the aim of being protected, as well as valuing and monitoring procedures fostering sustainable development through geoeducation and geotourism.
Both researchers consider that this study allows "to define a roadmap for geoconservation in the African continent, helping policy makers to establish priorities and implement projects based on geo heritage that promote economic and social development of local communities. It also allows the creation of legal instruments of protection and public policies assigned to nature conservation, in conjunction with experts and entrepreneurs".
The scientific article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.05.022.