PROMOTING GEOETHICAL GEOCONSERVATION PRACTICES

Abstract

Geoethics and geoconservation are relatively new disciplines within the Earth Sciences, whose relationship and shared vision are yet to be clearly established. The aim of this paper is to organise and highlight aspects of geoethics that can be incorporated into geoconservation to enhance the effectiveness of geoheritage management strategies and actions. The paper begins with an overview of the origin, development, and scope of geoconservation and geoethics, followed by a comprehensive review of geoethics publications that specifically address aspects of geoconservation. Then, it presents a set of geoethical recommendations or practices for geoconservation, together with ethical dilemmas and questions to encourage reflection and discussion. Finally, it concludes that, owing to the absence of specific geoconservation laws in much of Latin America and the prevalence of a markedly extractivist view of geodiversity in Chile, the promotion of geoethics in academia may be an effective tool in the medium term for conserving geoheritage.