A recent summary of geoheritage and protected area management as reported by Gordon (International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks 7:199-210, 2019) notes that a broader discipline has been emerging in geoheritage that recognizes the links to landscape and biodiversity conservation, economic development, climate change adaptation, sustainable management of land and water, historical and cultural heritage, and geotourism. Our focus in this study is to emphasize that geoheritage can serve as a gateway to developing a broader conservation ethic by developing educational programs that have a broader aim of interpretation, education, and enjoyment. Ultimately, these enjoyable educational experiences in areas of geoheritage value lead to a deeply felt conservation ethic. The US National Park Service recognizes the progression as through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection as discussed by Tilden (1957). We have been working towards this goal through the expansion of a high school environmental education program in the USA, the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon, to China. The Envirothon is an environmental education program that culminates in the annual NCF-Envirothon Competition in which winning teams from participating states and Canadian provinces compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. Much of the field education and field competitions are held in areas protected for their geoheritage and biodiversity values, and this use of geoheritage as a gateway to the broader educational goals is central to the program. We have been seeking to broaden the influence of the Envirothon program and underlying conservation goals in China. With educational curriculum reform since 2000 in China, students are encouraged to have more project-based learning opportunities and field-based experiences. The group at Beijing Normal University supports hundreds of high school partner programs. The Envirothon is a natural extension of this work and provides enhanced opportunities for international collaboration between the USA and China. Geoheritage value is a primary determinant of which areas are used for Envirothon field education and competitions; through this gateway, students from both countries will have educational, fun, and memorable experiences that will lead from understanding to appreciation to protection.
Tormey, D; Wei, DY; Feng, AX
Geoheritage Education as a Gateway to Developing a Conservation Ethic in High School Students from China and the USA
Geoheritage