Geoparks: Pathways to Internalize Sustainable Development in the State of Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The State of Bahia is located in the northeast region of Brazil. It has a population of almost 15 million people, 25% of which live in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador — RMS, the capital city, which accounts for over 40% of the state’s gross domestic product — GDP. Bahia has seven geopark proposals made by the Geological Survey of Brazil — CPRM, and it is the Brazilian state with the largest number of geoparks proposals in the country. All these geoparks proposals listed by CPRM for Bahia are in the countryside, more than 200 km away from the RMS, and are mostly related to geomorphological aspects. Four of these proposals are located in Chapada Diamantina, an ancient diamond mining region that is marked by mountain ranges and plateaus, sculpted in low metamorphosed Proterozoic sedimentary rocks, with caves, waterfalls, and relevant mining heritage. Considering the geoparks’ proposals for the state, Serra do Sincorá, São Desidério, Morro do Chapéu, and Alto Rio de Contas already count with geological heritage inventories, but the latter proposal lacks officially constituted organizations focused on its implementation. The CPRM’s geopark proposals for Bahia will be assessed here, envisioning that geoparks can be a pathway for sustainable countryside development in the state, helping in the distribution of its GDP, spreading scientific knowledge, reinforcing local identities, promoting the United Nations — UN Sustainable Development Goals — SDG, and fostering healthy lifestyles.