Topic – Preserving and Promoting America’s Geoheritage
Sites of geological significance in the United States are protected at a variety of federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service–as well as tribal, state and local entities.
In 2016, U.S. National Academy of Sciences’ National Committee on Geological Sciences established the U.S. Geoheritage and Geoparks Advisory Group to facilitate communication about geoheritage issues at local, national and international levels. The advisory group’s principal aims are to expand the recognition and understanding of geoheritage domestically, and to provide information and advice to local communities as they pursue development of geoheritage areas and geopark-like entities through currently available designations. Through these efforts, as well as national and international presentations, the advisory group works to raise awareness about geoheritage and promote policies to ensure that the United States’ remarkable legacy is protected for future generations.