Determinants of geoheritage conservation: Multiple correspondence analysis to explore interrelations between socio-economic and bibliometric data

Geoheritage is an emerging research subject with increasing global interest to define, characterize and quantify it in diverse geological and geomorphological settings. As being a new research subject there are great variety of conceptual approaches to do its definition and quantification. Geoheritage conservation is in the process of establishing a common ground that become necessary in the transnational collaboration for a sustainable future. Geoheritage conservation generates ever increasing number of scientific publications based on heterogenous evaluation methods with limited consensus within the field. The produced material, also part of various Big Data repositories, conceals valuable patterns and information on the level of agreement and the solution to draw the line for the acceptable level of subjectivity. Analysing bibliometric data of scientific publication appear in accessible global data bases (e.g. Web of Science) broken down to country levels allow us to find potential indicators for geoheritage designation. Finding determinants that positively influences decision makers and end users within the conservation arena helps geoscientists to achieve policy impact and increase the number of recognised and protected geological and geomorphological sites. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to detect and explore relationships between population, land, tourism, protected areas and bibliometric variables. The result revealed very important links between the socio-economic background and geoheritage conservation outcomes. The fact that there was no one major determinant found that would affect geoheritage conservation globally means that a common ground awaits to be established on which countries can build upon with the unique and special values local communities have to contribute toward geoheritage conservation.

The research is aligned with the goals of the “Geoheritage for Resilience” UNESCO IGPC project 692 program.