Promotion of Yosemite National Park Geoheritage: Valuing geodiversity in a protected area

National parks are protected areas that feature rich biodiversity and geodiversity, where management supports sustainable educational tourism. Due to the unique geological characteristics that make up the natural landscape, most National Parks around the world are also potential places for the development of scientific research and, therefore, present sites with high geoscientific value. Yosemite National Park in California comprises key sites for understanding the formation of granitic rocks and glacial features of the Sierra Nevada Batholith. The region was inhabited by Native Americans, the first to experience the beauty and importance of this natural landscape. Yosemite has been a World Heritage Site since 1984 and was one of the first national parks to be designated in the United States, in 1890, through the pioneering study of naturalists that resulted in its recognition as an important natural area that must be protected. Yosemite's geodiversity is the foundation of its rich ecosystem, allowing the development of diverse species of animals and plants, including three groves of giant sequoias. Although there are many scientific publications on various geological topics through the study of sites within the park, there has been little discussion of the geological significance of these sites from a geoheritage perspective. Our work aims to develop an initial analysis of the geoheritage of Yosemite National Park and discuss how its promotion is important for valuing geodiversity. We selected thirteen sites for inclusion in the National Park Service's Geologic Resources Division list of Geoheritage Sites. Outreach content related to each site will be promoted on the park's official website. Site selection was based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, and they are among the most representative geological formations of the park. They range from modern glaciers in constant decline due to global warming, represented by the Lyell and Maclure Glaciers Site, to the famous and unique intrusive formations of the Yosemite Valley: El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall and Sentinel Rock Sites. The metamorphic rocks of May Lake hold the oldest geological records in the park. Three important viewpoints allow us to comprehend the remarkable glacial geomorphology in the granite rocks of the park: Mount Hoffman, Glacier Point and Tunnel View Sites. In addition to scientific value, all of these sites have intrinsic, educational, environmental, tourist and cultural values. A concrete database about the characterization of the geoheritage can assist the management of the park's geological resources. The park is one of the most visited in the country and promoting its geoheritage to visitors can further enrich the experience and contribute to awareness of the importance of nature as a whole. This work can aid the approaching of geoheritage in national parks and it is expected that continuous research on the theme will be carried out. Valuing geodiversity is in constant progress and the promotion of internationally relevant geoheritage, such as Yosemite National Park, is a fundamental part of this process.