PRAYAGRAJ: Making the institution proud, prof AR Siddiqui of the department of Geography of Allahabad University would be presenting a seminal paper on geomorphosites in and around Prayagraj district in the quadrennial international conference of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) to be held from September 12-16 in Coibmra, Portugal. A geomorphosite, or geomorphological heritage site, is a landform or an assemblage of landforms that have a scientific, educational, historic-cultural, aesthetic or socio-economic value. His paper, titled an assessment of potential, scope, and significance of geomorphosites, geoparks, geoheritage and geotourism in some parts of UP and Madhya Pradesh states of India.
Using examples from Chitrakoot, Rewa, Orcha, Satna, Sonbhadra and Mirzapur, prof Siddiqui will present epistemological and methodological arguments for cataloguing and documenting the geomorphological features of the region.
Prof Siddiqui will show that these features play an important role in the cultural heritage of people.
“My work on cataloguing these sites will be crucial not just for conservation purposes but also for educating and sensitising the society about these geomorphological features that are a part of our cultural heritage,” he said.
Catalogue of geomorphosites is done by providing it a code based on various characteristics like its geological origin, its rarity, its scientific or intrinsic value, its status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list, its accessibility, its diversity and the potential threats that it faces. Apart from conservation, the strategy can also be used for increasing sustainable tourism in catalogued and mapped geomorphosite, said Siddiqui. Before this, prof Siddiqui has participated in various international conferences in France, China, Russia, Austria and other countries. Presently, he is holding the post of secretary general of the Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) and will be representing the institute in that capacity.
Using examples from Chitrakoot, Rewa, Orcha, Satna, Sonbhadra and Mirzapur, prof Siddiqui will present epistemological and methodological arguments for cataloguing and documenting the geomorphological features of the region.
Prof Siddiqui will show that these features play an important role in the cultural heritage of people.
“My work on cataloguing these sites will be crucial not just for conservation purposes but also for educating and sensitising the society about these geomorphological features that are a part of our cultural heritage,” he said.
Catalogue of geomorphosites is done by providing it a code based on various characteristics like its geological origin, its rarity, its scientific or intrinsic value, its status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list, its accessibility, its diversity and the potential threats that it faces. Apart from conservation, the strategy can also be used for increasing sustainable tourism in catalogued and mapped geomorphosite, said Siddiqui. Before this, prof Siddiqui has participated in various international conferences in France, China, Russia, Austria and other countries. Presently, he is holding the post of secretary general of the Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) and will be representing the institute in that capacity.