FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 October 2024
The Geological Society of America
Release No. 24-16
Contact: Katie Busser
+1-303-357-1044
kbusser@geosociety.org

GSA Becomes Sponsoring Organization for the U.S. Geoheritage Committee

Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) is proud to announce its new role as the sponsoring organization for the U.S. Geoheritage Committee. The GSA Council recently approved this motion, marking a significant transition from the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences (USNC/IUGS) to GSA as the primary entity supporting U.S. geoheritage initiatives.

Under GSA’s sponsorship, the U.S. Geoheritage Committee will benefit from enhanced support to advance geoheritage conservation and educational outreach. This partnership underscores GSA’s long-standing commitment to the preservation of significant geologic features, landforms, and landscapes. These geoheritage sites hold value not only for their scientific and educational importance but also for their cultural, aesthetic, recreational, and economic contributions.

“GSA is excited to partner with the U.S. Geoheritage Committee to conserve geologically special places,” says GSA Acting President Chuck Bailey. “But geoheritage is much more than just special places—it’s the world that’s all around us. Collectively, we’ll craft the narratives for both the spectacular and the everyday places and in so doing make the geology of place relevant to the public in a compelling fashion.”

Since 2008, the U.S. Geoheritage Committee, initially an informal group of geoscience experts, has led efforts to promote geoheritage and support communities interested in establishing Global Geoparks. The group was formalized in 2016 to advise the USNC/IUGS on geoheritage issues and the UNESCO Global Geoparks program. With GSA’s involvement, the committee will continue its mission to:

• Promote the recognition and conservation of nationally significant geoheritage sites within the U.S.;

• Develop and present educational workshops, meetings, and publications regarding America’s geoheritage;

• Establish partnerships and collaborations to support a vibrant U.S. geoheritage program;

• Advise U.S. organizations on national and international geoheritage issues.

Housing the U.S. Geoheritage Committee under GSA aligns with GSA’s dedication to conserving geoheritage sites to meet present and future educational, scientific, cultural, and economic needs. GSA has been a leader in promoting geoheritage through workshops, technical sessions, and publications, including GSA Today, the only U.S. geoscience journal to feature articles on geoheritage.

For more information on GSA’s involvement in geoheritage, read GSA’s Position Statement on Geoheritage here.

About the Geological Society of America

The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society with a membership of more than 17,000 individuals in over 100 countries. GSA serves as a leading voice for the geosciences, promoting the understanding of Earth's dynamic processes and fostering collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers.

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