Inventory and analisys of the geological natural heritage of the Rio Claro region (SP).

Abstract

This paper discusses the methodological approach used in the inventory and evaluation of geosites in the Rio Claro region, one of the first studies on this topic in the state of São Paulo. This region is characterized by a rich geodiversity, including relevant geosites with speleological, stratigraphical, geomorphological, palaeoenvironmental, paleontological and sedimentological content. The absence of a proposal for a systematic inventory of geological heritage at state or national level, considering the geological history of the area studied, made it difficult to inventory and evaluate the geosites. The methodology used in this study, already applied in European countries, was adapted for the study area and identified eleven geosites with great scientific value and broad potential use. Four out of the eleven geosites are in accordance with the UNESCO proposal for conservation of the world natural heritage and can be included in national and international inventories. Therefore, the first steps toward the development of a strategy for the conservation of the geological heritage of the study area are presented in this paper. These steps are very important since this area is currently under threat and public policies are needed for its better management.