FROM GEOPARK ARARIPE TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF A FIELD KNOWLEDGE: THE RESEARCH ON THE GEODIVERSITY OF CEARÁ, BRAZIL

Abstract

Geodiversity is among the fastest growing themes in the world, consolidating itself as a geoscientific paradigm for the conservation of geoheritage. The present study aims to carry out an analysis of the state of the art of research on geodiversity in the state of Ceará, Brasil based on the characterization of the main concepts adopted, areas studied and years of publications, taking as a parameter the beginning of studies in the state. The study was based on a quantitative and qualitative survey of scientific publications on the geodiversity of Ceará based on the concepts of geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation, geotourism and geopark, as well as those derived from the emergence and diversification of the discussion until the year 2022. Of the 226 publications identified, the first occurred only in 2007, with 21 concepts being registered, from the most classic to the most recent. Among the surveyed geoenvironmental units, the High Sedimentary Plateaus stand out, with emphasis on the Araripe GeoPark, which concentrates 46% of the studies. Different scales of analysis and spatial cutouts, such as conservation units, landforms, municipalities and metropolitan regions, were adopted in the research. We can say that geodiversity is consolidated in Ceará as a new applied and multidisciplinary field of investigation, but with strong bases in Geography and Geology.