Importance of geodiversity
Geodiversity affects all our lives and delivers important economic, social and environmental benefits for the people of Scotland.
Geodiversity is the variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, landforms, sediments and soils, together with the natural processes which form and alter them. Read a discussion on geodiversity definitions.
Scotland’s geodiversity is:
- crucial to the delivery of ecosystem services and functions
- the foundation upon which plants, animals and human beings live
- the physical basis for our varied landscapes
- a unique teaching and scientific resource, which provides insights into climate change, sea-level rise and other issues
- a vital part of our cultural and built heritage
- an important source of basic raw materials
Looking after our geodiversity is a vital part of conserving Scotland’s landscapes and nature. It’s also important to ensure that geodiversity continues to be available to help us predict and adapt to future change.
Adopting an ecosystem approach means that we take a holistic view of ecosystems – their geodiversity and biodiversity – during decision-making and we value the services they provide.
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