Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit

Conservation efforts, such as geoconservation, involve some degree of subjectivity, compromising the objective data and verifiable evidence required for effective decision-making. Geodiversity, which comprises the non-living components that underpin life, is increasingly at risk from human activitie...

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Main Authors: Jake RA Crisp, Joanna C. Ellison
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2024-04-01
Series:Geoconservation Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oiccpress.com/geoconservation-research/article/geoconservation-subjectivity-evaluation-a-case-study-of-a-management-toolkit/fulltext/
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author Jake RA Crisp
Joanna C. Ellison
author_facet Jake RA Crisp
Joanna C. Ellison
author_sort Jake RA Crisp
collection DOAJ
description Conservation efforts, such as geoconservation, involve some degree of subjectivity, compromising the objective data and verifiable evidence required for effective decision-making. Geodiversity, which comprises the non-living components that underpin life, is increasingly at risk from human activities and is frequently overlooked in conservation initiatives. Here, we develop a novel subjectivity evaluation tool and management framework, implemented as a case study at a Tasmanian mountain site using a geoconservation toolkit approach. Our assessments show that Mounts Dial (102) and Gnomon (124) are highly geodiverse, while Mount Duncan (31) is moderately geodiverse. Further, scientific, tourism, and conservation values are determined to be most representative of geoconservation significance, with Mounts Duncan and Gnomon ranking highest. However, the novel subjectivity evaluation tool reveals highly subjective data and outcomes for geodiversity and geoconservation assessment (25) attributed to a lack of scholarly literature, limited interdisciplinary engagement, and evaluator input into criteria ranking. Therefore, the subjectivity framework recommends measures to mitigate this subjectivity, by enhanced interdisciplinary engagement of expert stakeholders using objective hierarchical methods, combined with remote sensing or GIS statistical validation. Overall, the study demonstrates the usefulness of the subjectivity evaluation approach to identify parameters hindering geoconservation outcomes. The novel subjectivity approach has global implications, in improving subjectivity management in geoconservation assessment and allowing better alignment of comparisons between practitioners and sites.
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spelling doaj-art-4ba5e46a254b4ba29573b8f5d34c3cb02024-12-02T06:45:25ZengOICC PressGeoconservation Research2645-46612588-73432024-04-017112110.57647/j.gcr.2024.0701.012103Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management ToolkitJake RA Crisphttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5038-6392Joanna C. Ellison0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0692-8347University of TasmaniaConservation efforts, such as geoconservation, involve some degree of subjectivity, compromising the objective data and verifiable evidence required for effective decision-making. Geodiversity, which comprises the non-living components that underpin life, is increasingly at risk from human activities and is frequently overlooked in conservation initiatives. Here, we develop a novel subjectivity evaluation tool and management framework, implemented as a case study at a Tasmanian mountain site using a geoconservation toolkit approach. Our assessments show that Mounts Dial (102) and Gnomon (124) are highly geodiverse, while Mount Duncan (31) is moderately geodiverse. Further, scientific, tourism, and conservation values are determined to be most representative of geoconservation significance, with Mounts Duncan and Gnomon ranking highest. However, the novel subjectivity evaluation tool reveals highly subjective data and outcomes for geodiversity and geoconservation assessment (25) attributed to a lack of scholarly literature, limited interdisciplinary engagement, and evaluator input into criteria ranking. Therefore, the subjectivity framework recommends measures to mitigate this subjectivity, by enhanced interdisciplinary engagement of expert stakeholders using objective hierarchical methods, combined with remote sensing or GIS statistical validation. Overall, the study demonstrates the usefulness of the subjectivity evaluation approach to identify parameters hindering geoconservation outcomes. The novel subjectivity approach has global implications, in improving subjectivity management in geoconservation assessment and allowing better alignment of comparisons between practitioners and sites.https://oiccpress.com/geoconservation-research/article/geoconservation-subjectivity-evaluation-a-case-study-of-a-management-toolkit/fulltext/assessmentconservationgeoconservationgeodiversitysubjectivity
spellingShingle Jake RA Crisp
Joanna C. Ellison
Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
Geoconservation Research
assessment
conservation
geoconservation
geodiversity
subjectivity
title Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
title_full Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
title_fullStr Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
title_full_unstemmed Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
title_short Geoconservation Subjectivity Evaluation: A Case Study of a Management Toolkit
title_sort geoconservation subjectivity evaluation a case study of a management toolkit
topic assessment
conservation
geoconservation
geodiversity
subjectivity
url https://oiccpress.com/geoconservation-research/article/geoconservation-subjectivity-evaluation-a-case-study-of-a-management-toolkit/fulltext/
work_keys_str_mv AT jakeracrisp geoconservationsubjectivityevaluationacasestudyofamanagementtoolkit
AT joannacellison geoconservationsubjectivityevaluationacasestudyofamanagementtoolkit