Mitigating visitor impacts at UNESCO Global Geoparks

Distributed globally and covering an extremely wide array of geological contexts, UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) present unique conservation challenges, particularly with regard to small-scale visitor impacts. Individual geoheritage sites within UGGps vary widely in substrate durability, scientific value, and visitor motivations, rendering one-size-fits-all approaches ineffective. Here, we review the empirical literature on small-scale interventions used within UGGps and describe a general, adaptive approach to mitigating visitor impacts. The approach is based on linking four interconnected classes of intervention: visitor segmentation, visit tailoring, behavioural modification tools, and activity zoning. Initially, visitor segmentation (determination of who visits the geopark and why) informs dispersal strategies and tailoring of visits. Next, context-specific behavioural modification tools are implemented to shape and/or reduce the incidence of specific on-site actions. Finally, activity zoning translates the insights gained via visitor segmentation and monitoring into broader management decisions. Within this general approach, educational infrastructure and monitoring/feedback systems are integrated as independent tools that are most effective when they guide the application and adaptive improvement of the four ground-level interventions described in the literature. The resulting framework provides geopark managers with an evidence-based system for mitigating visitor impacts at geoheritage sites.