Geoconservation in Portugal: analysis of conservation strategies and monitoring of geological sites

• Grant number: 24/16878-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 13, 2025
• End date: November 12, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Maria da Glória Motta Garcia
• Grantee: Laura Pereira Balaguer
• Supervisor: Jose Bernardo Rodrigues Brilha
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Minho (UMinho), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/13514-1 - Assessment of impacts on geodiversity and geoheritage on the north coast of state of São Paulo, BP.DR

Abstract

Geoconservation actions for the conservation and valorization of geological heritage are linked to the stages of diagnosis, conservation, and promotion. Among the stages, conservation encompasses legal protection, conservation and monitoring. European countries are a reference in the conservation and monitoring of geological sites (GS), among which Portugal presents experiences mainly in the areas of diagnosis, with the systematic inventory of the geological heritage of the continental and island territory, and conservation, based on different legal instruments and academic research developed within the scope of monitoring the state and integrity of GS for the development of management plans. In this sense, a work programme is presented to obtain a research grant abroad (BEPE) at the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal) with the aim of corroborating doctoral research, linked to the assessment of impacts on geodiversity in north coast of the state of São Paulo, which provides for the monitoring of indicators to assess the state of conservation of GS in the face of natural and anthropogenic processes. BEPE's objective is to carry out subjects in the area of ¿¿geoconservation and recognize conservation strategies that are being developed in Portugal to contribute to GS monitoring strategies and methodologies in the study area. The work programme consists of five stages that include completing disciplines, fieldwork, technical visits, participating in events and taking courses.