Name: EDIMUNDO ALMEIDA DA CRUZ
Publication date: 30/01/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ADILSON RODRIGUES CAMACHO | Examinador Externo |
| ANA CHRISTINA WIGNERON GIMENES | Presidente |
| ANDRE LUIZ NASCENTES COELHO | Examinador Interno |
| MARCELO MARTINS DE MOURA-FÉ | Examinador Externo |
| PAULO CESAR SCARIM | Examinador Interno |
Summary: A Geopark is a territory in which sites and landscapes of international geological significance
are managed through a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development.
This approach requires the engagement of local communities, which must be integrated
throughout all stages of implementation. It is a horizontal governance strategy where local
actors—individuals and legal entities linked to the spatial area—self-organize to plan and
execute actions aimed at sustainable territorial development, in synergy with the conservation
of geodiversity attributes (geoheritage). Although territories recognized as UNESCO Geoparks
do not constitute conservation units or analogous categories of protected areas established by
the state, the existence of at least one conservation unit within the perimeter is considered a
desirable criterion for application submission. This thesis aimed to conduct a quantitative
assessment of geodiversity in areas covered by Conservation Units in the state of Espírito Santo,
in order to support geoconservation strategies and establish priorities for the protection and
sustainable use of this abiotic heritage. The assessment of geodiversity in continental areas
intersecting Conservation Units was carried out based on the criteria of the GEOSSIT
methodology (CPRM). Protection priorities were defined for the evaluated sites (n = 123),
considering scientific (PP-Ic), educational (PP-Ie), and tourism (PP-It) values, as well as the
overall protection priority (PPG). The ranking of the evaluated sites with the highest scores and
global protection priority identified two areas with outstanding abiotic attributes, whose
relevance justifies their prioritization in the implementation of territorial development
strategies. The results provide support for the planning and selection of sites with unique
geodiversity from a geoconservation perspective, thereby guiding decision-making processes
related to the prioritization of human and financial resources, management actions, and the
public use of areas with relevant geoheritage.
