Boundary of ecosystem services: A response to.

Chen et al. (2023) have proposed a scheme to define which services should be included as ecosystem services and which should be excluded so as to avoid "an all-encompassing metaphor that captures any benefit". We discuss the proposals, drawing attention in particular to definitions of 'natural capital' and 'ecosystems', the complexities of separating biotic from abiotic flows, and the importance of geodiversity and geosystem services in delivering societal benefits. We conclude that rather than trying to separate out bits of nature in order to draw the boundary of ecosystem services, it is perhaps time to avoid using 'nature' and 'biodiversity' as synonyms and think instead of a more holistic and integrated approach involving 'environmental', 'natural' or 'nature's services', in which the role of abiotic nature is fully recognised in both ecosystem services and non-ecosystem domains.

Inventory and assessment of geosites to stimulate regional sustainable management: the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The reviewed and integrated geoheritage inventory of the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, resulted in 43 geosites distributed in eight geological frameworks. The selected geosites are representative of a geological history from the Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano-Pan African Cycle) to the recent, covering a minimum 700-Ma timespan. Considering the dynamic character of geoheritage inventories, the results presented in this work were based on previous local, town-based surveys, which were reviewed under the light of new geological data and geoconservation methods. Both qualitative and quantitative geosites assessments were used to discuss their geological representativeness and relevance, as well as legal aspects regarding protection and perspectives for future use. This resulted in a detailed inventory that reflects the current geological knowledge in the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, and may be used to make a general diagnosis of the scientific value, state of conservation, risk of degradation and potential use of the geoheritage. Moreover, it reinforces the importance of locally- and regionally-relevant sites for sustainable land management using geoheritage and to direct the decisions related to the conservation and use of this abiotic part of nature in the region.

Conservation of geosites as a tool to protect geoheritage: the inventory of Ceará Central Domain, Borborema Province - NE/Brazil.

The Ceará Central Domain, in the northern Borborema Province/NE Brazil, encompasses important geological records (geosites) which allow understanding a relevant period of the Earth's evolution, mainly associated to Neoproterozoic Brazilian/Pan-African Cycle and West Gondwana amalgamation, besides Neoarchean to Ordovician records. The presented geoheritage inventory aims to characterise the geosites with scientific relevance of Ceará Central Domain. By applying a method for large areas, the final selection resulted in eight geological frameworks represented by 52 geosites documented in a single database. This is the first step for a geoconservation strategy based on systematic inventories, statutory protection, geoethical behaviour and awareness about scientific, educational and/or cultural relevance of geosites.

Conservation of geosites as a tool to protect geoheritage: the inventory of Ceará Central Domain, Borborema Province - NE/Brazil

ABSTRACT The Ceará Central Domain, in the northern Borborema Province/NE Brazil, encompasses important geological records (geosites) which allow understanding a relevant period of the Earth's evolution, mainly associated to Neoproterozoic Brazilian/Pan-African Cycle and West Gondwana amalgamation, besides Neoarchean to Ordovician records. The presented geoheritage inventory aims to characterise the geosites with scientific relevance of Ceará Central Domain. By applying a method for large areas, the final selection resulted in eight geological frameworks represented by 52 geosites documented in a single database. This is the first step for a geoconservation strategy based on systematic inventories, statutory protection, geoethical behaviour and awareness about scientific, educational and/or cultural relevance of geosites.