Vertebrate ichnosites as geological heritage
“For the last 3 decades, there has been a significant increase in interest among scientists and policymakers worldwide in the heritage significance of geology, particularly in the context of geoconservation, geotourism, and geopark initiatives. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of best practices for vertebrate ichnosite protection and geoconservation all over the world and highlights the most important museums and visitor centers housing important or extensive collections of tetrapod trace fossils or their casts. While the definition and conservation of dinosaur ichnosites have prominently driven the geoconservation efforts in several countries and regions, the broader field of vertebrate ichnological geoheritage has seen varying levels of engagement. The late Martin G. Lockley played a pivotal role in promoting the scientific educational and geotourism value of dinosaur tracksites and supported several projects all over the world through his Denver Dinosaur Trackers Research Group. This group’s ongoing global presence underscores Lockley’s enduring legacy and continues to inspire new geoconservation projects. In contrast, nondinosaur tetrapod ichnosites have inspired less enthusiasm for onsite conservation and public engagement. This disparity may stem from the less iconic nature of the trace producers, their smaller size and therefore less visually striking traces, or the challenges in preserving ichnosites in less consolidated rocks, such as those containing Pliocene and Quaternary vertebrate tracks, including hominin footprints.” Find the article here