Consolidation of geodiversity as heritage and the geological value of monument in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The concept of heritage has been reformulated by several experts over the years and takes on several meanings. Thus, heritage is understood as a material or imaterial good, to which value is attributed, that is, it has a singular value, representing a collective identity and which must be preserved for current and future generations. The patrimonialization process starts from the recognition of the value of objects of interest, that is, the reason for being considered heritage and the discourse that reveals it, in addition to the systematization of areas of thought through disciplines. Therefore, this article aims to identify and discuss the arguments and process for the preservation of geological heritage, as part of cultural and environmental / natural heritage. Through a synthesis of the concept of heritage in global and national perspective and of protection and conservation actions, it is proposed to demonstrate the development of the Brasilian geological heritage, with the municipality of Rio de Janeiro as a case study to exemplify the insertion of the geological value in the patrimonial though category. The heritage process is consolidate based on international documents and agendas, which are the Programs, Declarations, Conventions and Recommendations signed by UNESCO. The geological heritage is only strongly inserted in the patrimonial discussion since the beginning of 1990. It is possible to observe convergences and divergences in the patrimonialization of goods of cultural, natural or geological origin. It identifies the chronological divergence and actions of preservation and conservation of goods of different natures and convergence in the discourse of loss to conserve and preserve. Rio de Janeiro presents a good case study, as the natural monuments, which are part of the Earth’s evolution history and are present in the imaginary of Rio’s culture, are liable to be attributed geological value. The geocientific narrative is one of the ways of attributing patrimonial vale to the good, through the insertion of geological value to the goods.