Conservation of geological heritage of Geopark Araripe (Brazil): framework, strategies and constraints

The geological recognition of the importance of the Araripe Geopark is mainly due to palaeontological features, with emphasis on the Araripe sedimentary basin that contains one of the most important fossil associations of the world for Lower Cretaceous rocks. Unfortunately, despite the existent legal framework, the illegal trade of fossils of the Araripe basin is still active with the consequent smuggling of many fossils out of the country. The main targets for this trade are the rarest fossils with perfect preservation conditions, which acquire an exceptional scientific value. There are several causes for this situation that is documented for decades but with no efficient solution implemented so far. This work intends to promote and disseminate several activities that may integrate a formal and informal education strategy in order to consolidate the geoconservation of the palaeontological heritage in the Araripe Geopark. As any other educational plan, the expected results will not be immediate but, even so, these proposals can be applied in the geoconservation strategy of the Araripe Geopark or in any other fossil areas of Brazil and of the world.