The Protection of Geo-collections for Future Generations

IUGS acknowledges geological heritage to be of highest scientific importance to appreciate and sustain its use as an educational resource and to preserve it for the good of society and for our planet’s well-being. The decline of the biosphere, global warming, the sustainability of regional populations, and other global challenges can best be addressed with policies based on scientific knowledge (Zumaia declaration, 28 October 2022). In collaboration with UNESCO’s International Geoscience Program and after the presentation of 200 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, the first 11 Geological Heritage Collections have been presented at the 37th International Geological Congress held in Busan, South Korea, in August 2024. These collections are noteworthy because they contain physical specimens and metadata that are crucial for understanding Earth and the solar system and are of global importance because of their particularly high scientific, historical, and educational relevance. IUGS Geo-collections educate and inspire the public, preserve the record for future generations, and underlie research into our most pressing fields: the origin of water and life on Earth, understanding the history of life, climate change, and the development of new resources, including green technologies. The next goal is the selection of the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Collections.” A call for proposals, evaluation, and designation of new candidates is put forward.