GSA Becomes Sponsoring Organization for the U.S. Geoheritage Committee
Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) is proud to announce
its new role as the sponsoring organization for the U.S. Geoheritage
Committee. The GSA Council recently approved this motion, marking a
significant transition from the U.S. National Committee for the
International Union of Geological Sciences (USNC/IUGS) to GSA as the primary
entity supporting U.S. geoheritage initiatives.
Under GSA’s sponsorship, the U.S. Geoheritage Committee will benefit from
enhanced support to advance geoheritage conservation and educational
outreach. This partnership underscores GSA’s long-standing commitment to the
preservation of significant geologic features, landforms, and landscapes.
These geoheritage sites hold value not only for their scientific and
educational importance but also for their cultural, aesthetic, recreational,
and economic contributions.
“GSA is excited to partner with the U.S. Geoheritage Committee to conserve
geologically special places,” says GSA Acting President Chuck Bailey. “But
geoheritage is much more than just special places—it’s the world that’s all
around us. Collectively, we’ll craft the narratives for both the spectacular
and the everyday places and in so doing make the geology of place relevant
to the public in a compelling fashion.”
Since 2008, the U.S. Geoheritage Committee, initially an informal group of
geoscience experts, has led efforts to promote geoheritage and support
communities interested in establishing Global Geoparks. The group was
formalized in 2016 to advise the USNC/IUGS on geoheritage issues and the
UNESCO Global Geoparks program. With GSA’s involvement, the committee will
continue its mission to:
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Promote the recognition and conservation of nationally significant
geoheritage sites within the U.S.;
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Develop and present educational workshops, meetings, and
publications regarding America’s geoheritage;
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Establish partnerships and collaborations to support a vibrant U.S.
geoheritage program;
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Advise U.S. organizations on national and international geoheritage
issues.
Housing the U.S. Geoheritage Committee under GSA aligns with GSA’s
dedication to conserving geoheritage sites to meet present and future
educational, scientific, cultural, and economic needs. GSA has been a leader
in promoting geoheritage through workshops, technical sessions, and
publications, including GSA Today, the only U.S. geoscience journal to
feature articles on geoheritage.
For more information on GSA’s involvement in geoheritage, read GSA’s
Position Statement on geoheritage here.
About the Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society
with a membership of more than 17,000 individuals in over 100 countries. GSA
serves as a leading voice for the geosciences, promoting the understanding of Earth's dynamic processes and fostering collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers.
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