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Preserving Earth's Legacy: Exploring Geoheritage and Sustainable Practices for a Resilient Future

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5177

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hara Drinia

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
Interests: palaeoecology; sedimentology; palaeoenvironment; geoheritage; geotourism; geoconservation; geoeducation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The objective of this Special Issue is to explore the complex relationship between geoheritage and sustainability, focusing on the importance of preserving Earth's geoheritage for a sustainable and resilient future.

The primary aim is to foster interdisciplinary research and perspectives from fields such as geology, conservation, geoeducation, environmental science, tourism, and cultural heritage. Through this synergy, various facets of geoconservation and its implications for sustainable development will be examined. The overarching goal is to enhance our understanding of the significance of geoheritage in promoting and supporting sustainable practices at both local and global levels.

Potential topics in this Special Issue may encompass, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Scientific, cultural, educational, and aesthetic values of geosites and their contribution to sustainable development;
  • Threats to geoheritage preservation (climate change, urbanization, pollution, and resource extraction);
  • Geoconservation strategies and management;
  • Geoheritage and sustainable tourism;
  • Geoheritage and climate change;
  • Geoheritage and disaster risk reduction;
  • Geoethics and governance;
  • Geoheritage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By focusing on these objectives, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the broader goal of preserving Earth's legacy, ensuring the sustainable management of geoheritage, and building a resilient future for generations to come.

Prof. Dr. Hara Drinia
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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
  • sustainability
  • geoconservation
  • resilience
  • environmental science
  • cultural heritage
  • climate change
  • sustainable tourism
  • natural resources
  • community engagement
  • governance
  • geoeducation
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • best practices
  • geoethics
  • stakeholder collaboration
  • disaster risk reduction
  • environmental management

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 11570 KiB  
Article
New Geo- and Mining Heritage-Based Tourist Destinations in the Sudetes (SW Poland)—Towards More Effective Resilience of Local Communities
by Edyta Pijet-Migoń and Piotr Migoń
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135626 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1167
Abstract
This paper explores several geotourist destinations in the mountainous area of SW Poland, either recently created or being developed right now, where the unifying theme is the emergence of a new site of interest in a place formerly inaccessible due to mining operations. [...] Read more.
This paper explores several geotourist destinations in the mountainous area of SW Poland, either recently created or being developed right now, where the unifying theme is the emergence of a new site of interest in a place formerly inaccessible due to mining operations. We focus on five sites, including three in the territory of Land of the Extinct Volcanoes UNESCO Global Geopark, connected with the legacy of mining (coal, ores) and quarrying (solid rock, aggregates). For each locality, the history of mining is briefly outlined, followed by the presentation of its conversion into a tourist object and current use. The localities illustrate, at the same time, (a) various aspects of geoheritage and its connection with human activities, thus in line with the ABC concept promoted for geoparks and similar initiatives; (b) attempts to alleviate problems of abandoned mining grounds and their management; (c) different ways towards conversion of formerly inaccessible localities into tourist destinations; (d) ideas to increase the portfolio of (geo)tourist products at the regional scale, striving to achieve greater balance in the geographical distribution of sites of potential interest; and (e) a variety of current management challenges. Overall, it is argued that in each case, the emergence of a new site of interest is beneficial for the local community, as the visibility of the place is increasing, tourist visits grow, local identity is strengthened, and new employment opportunities arise, both directly and indirectly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preserving Earth's Legacy: Exploring Geoheritage and Sustainable Practices for a Resilient Future)
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18 pages, 5827 KiB  
Article
Geocultural Interactions in Minoan Crete: An Environmental Education Perspective through Drama Techniques
by Elena Fanioudaki, Hara Drinia and Charalampos Fassoulas
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020907 - 21 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1925
Abstract
This paper explores an innovative educational program designed to protect and promote the geocultural heritage of Minoan Crete. The program applies environmental education and sustainability principles while integrating theater in education, a novel approach that significantly impacts participants’ perspectives. By effectively combining these [...] Read more.
This paper explores an innovative educational program designed to protect and promote the geocultural heritage of Minoan Crete. The program applies environmental education and sustainability principles while integrating theater in education, a novel approach that significantly impacts participants’ perspectives. By effectively combining these elements, the program fosters environmental awareness, deepens cultural appreciation, and instills sustainable behaviors in both the local population and visitors. This interdisciplinary approach, blending geocultural heritage into environmental education, promotes an understanding of the delicate balance between nature and human interaction during the Minoan era. The paper also examines the program’s potential for broader community engagement and policy influence, emphasizing how its educational outcomes could result in meaningful changes at both community and policy levels. We advocate for the preservation of Minoan Crete’s geocultural heritage and its sustainable future through a unique blend of educational strategies, marking a milestone in heritage conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preserving Earth's Legacy: Exploring Geoheritage and Sustainable Practices for a Resilient Future)
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Review

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34 pages, 4880 KiB  
Review
Expanding Geoethics: Interrelations with Geoenvironmental Education and Sense of Place
by Alexandros Aristotelis Koupatsiaris and Hara Drinia
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1819; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051819 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1500
Abstract
Human existence and progress hinge on sustainability and resilience, especially in the Anthropocene Era, where the diversity of nature plays a critical role. Central to this endeavor is the realm of geoethics, which not only reshapes the role of geosciences but also fosters [...] Read more.
Human existence and progress hinge on sustainability and resilience, especially in the Anthropocene Era, where the diversity of nature plays a critical role. Central to this endeavor is the realm of geoethics, which not only reshapes the role of geosciences but also fosters the development of ethical behavior and practices in our interaction with the Earth. This paper presents a conceptual framework that integrates the seemingly disparate domains of geoethics, geoenvironmental education, and the sense of place. By conducting a systematic review using the keywords “Geoethics AND Education” and “Geoethics AND place” across global databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and JSTOR, up to October 2023, we seek to uncover evidence illuminating the potential connections between these concepts. Out of n = 98 records identified, n = 22 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in our review. Our findings reveal a growing scientific interest in the spectrum of geoethics over the last decade, with diverse perspectives related to concerns about geoeducation. We propose that future research should focus on expanding the scope of geoethics across various disciplines, emphasizing the importance of human ethos, socio-eco responsibility, and ethical considerations in geological heritage and geoconservation management. Geoenvironmental education emerges as a crucial avenue for advancing geoethics, while the multifaceted outcome of the sense of place offers a promising pathway for standardizing and correlating these fields effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preserving Earth's Legacy: Exploring Geoheritage and Sustainable Practices for a Resilient Future)
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