Geodiversity assessment to regional scale: Ecuador as a case study

Geodiversity is the variety of earth materials, forms and processes that constitute and shape the Earth planet. Therefore, geodiversity includes essential for developing nature-based solutions and must be adequately characterised. This research aims to evaluate the geodiversity of Mainland Ecuador by estimating a Geodiversity Index, which is the sum of five partial indexes (Lithological, Geomorphological, Paleontological, Pedological, and Mineral occurrences), in a 25 x 25 km grid. In addition, the study shows and analyses the geodiversity index map obtained as a basis for the development of policies for the use and conservation of geodiversity. The cartography developed generally illustrates the distribution of the geological diversity existing in Ecuador. Specifically, the ranges of the indices reached in the geodiversity map, including the medium, high, and very high categories, corresponding to 47.52 % of the extension of Ecuador using the Pereira method and to 52.91 % using the procedure proposed in this study. These special categories are located mainly along the Andes Mountain range and in the newly formed mountain ranges in the coastal zone. In addition, these categories defined in the geodiversity map coincide, spatially, with the main initiatives of geoparks and geo-routes catalogued in the country. The maps generated and the estimated indices represent relevant tools in territorial planning and calculated future geoconservation strategies. Furthermore, a series of initiatives are proposed to develop a policy favouring the characterisation, use and protection of geodiversity.