As a member of the Scientific Committee of the Aspiring Geopark Estrela he did an oral presentation entitled: Aspiring Geopark Estrela: Diamonds are forever?
Abstract
In this presentation Aspiring
Geopark Estrela is viewed as a rough diamond which can be cut into many facets.
It is argued why Earth Sciences are
not enough to understand the complex ecosystem of Serra da Estrela. In order to
grasp all facets of this shiny diamond we also need Human Sciences to manage
the area in a sustainable way and to let this unique mountain massif shine at
his best.
Without knowledge and willingness it
will not be possible to combine both the need for a socio-economic viable
community in the Serra da Estrela and the sustainable management of its goods
and services with the demand in urban areas for energy, drinking water,
leisure, nature, culture and high quality food products. Aspiring Geopark
Estrela creates a new momentum both for multidisciplinary research and
cooperation of all 9 municipalities in managing the region.
On a historical basis major examples
are shown of how facets of the rough Estrela diamond were cut by both its
non-living and its living nature, the interaction of both and thus in short by
its ecology. Additionally, the role of man in using the genius loci is highlighted and how his technology brought about
socio-economic developments in the region, which may explain the present state
of the art.
The importance of the
phenomenological approach is underlined: understanding the different ways in
which people look at nature. The goal is to get anyone around the table who is
interested in the area so that good communication is initiated creating
opportunities to achieve synergistic collaboration. In other words that all the
different viewpoints from artist to scientist, from farmer to townsman, from
child to adult, from resident to tourist, civil servant to entrepreneur and so
on will fall in the right place. In addition we all have also a view where we
personally stand for, being a more
emotional, spiritual view. This view may be called our interior side of
sustainability. It all starts with our experience of beauty which connects us
with the cosmos including Aspiring Geopark Estrela as a unique part of the
world.
The integration of various disciplinary
approaches in the field of Earth Sciences and Human Sciences was already
targeted in the 19th century by the Sociedade de Geografia de
Lisboa, who organised the scientific expedition to Serra da Estrela in 1881
including numerous academic disciplines.
To remain
in the sphere of geosciences and using a metaphor as expression of the
phenomenological approach as to optimise the communication between all players
in the region, the ultimate goal of this contribution is polishing the existing
qualities and supplying suggestions of cutting new facets of Estrela diamond.
https://egnazores2017.com/
Interview on Portuguese TV
http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/pais/2017-09-11-Serra-da-Estrela-candidata-a-Geoparque-da-UNESCO
