Evaluation of Geodiversity Across Noorabad Basin (Fars Province, Iran)

Abstract

Geodiversity is a landscape property linked to the heterogeneity of physical features across the Earth’s surface. It refers to the wide span of diversity in geological features and phenomena, resembling the concept of biodiversity in natural living organisms (including plants and animals). Hosting highly complex geological phenomena and features, Iran exhibits high degrees of geodiversity. The present study aims to evaluate the geodiversity in pretty virgin natural areas for developing geotourism spaces, attracting tourists, and expanding ecosystems in the Noorabad basin. The case study is part of sub-basins (SWs) in Hendijan and Jarahi, located northwest of the Fars Province, southwestern Iran. The methodology of this research is based on analytic techniques and field surveys. For this purpose, we began by preparing topographic position indicator (TPI), climatology, geology, and morphology layers, then calculating diversity and richness indexes. Finally, the layers were compiled to come up with a final map of five geodiversity indexes, including patch richness density (PRD), Simpson’s roughness index (SIEI), Shannon’s roughness index (SHEI), Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI), and Simpson’s diversity index (SIDI). The results showed that the geodiversity was higher in the SW1 due to the higher diversity of this zone in terms of lithology, geomorphology, and climatology. In the SW1, the values of PRD, SIEI, SHEI, SHDI, and SIDI were estimated at 0.31, 0.81, 0.68, 1.56, and 0.87, respectively. This geodiversity in the southern part of the Noorabad basin has leveraged tourism development in this area. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage.