Geodiversity is a topical concept in earth and environmental sciences. Geodiversity information is needed to conserve nature, use ecosystem services and achieve sustainable development goals. Despite the increasing demand for geodiversity data, there exists no comprehensive system for categorizing geodiversity. Here, we present a hierarchically structured taxonomy that is potentially applicable in mapping and quantifying geodiversity across different regions, environments and scales. In this taxonomy, the main components of geodiversity are geology, geomorphology, hydrology and pedology. We propose a six-level hierarchical system where the components of geodiversity are classified at progressively lower taxonomic levels based on their genesis, physical–chemical properties and morphology. This comprehensive taxonomy can be used to compile geodiversity information for scientific research and various applications of value to society and nature conservation. Ultimately, this hierarchical system is the first step towards developing a global geodiversity taxonomy. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Geodiversity for science and society’.

中文翻译：

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走向地理多样性分类

地球多样性是地球和环境科学中的一个热门概念。保护自然、利用生态系统服务和实现可持续发展目标需要地理多样性信息。尽管对地理多样性数据的需求不断增加，但尚不存在用于对地理多样性进行分类的综合系统。在这里，我们提出了一种分层结构的分类法，该分类法可能适用于绘制和量化不同区域、环境和尺度的地理多样性。在这个分类中，地球多样性的主要组成部分是地质学、地貌学、水文学和土壤学。我们提出了一个六级分层系统，其中根据其起源、物理化学性质和形态，将地球多样性的组成部分划分为逐渐降低的分类水平。这种综合分类法可用于编制地理多样性信息，用于科学研究以及对社会和自然保护有价值的各种应用。最终，这个层次系统是开发全球地理多样性分类学的第一步。本文是西奥·墨菲会议问题“科学与社会的地理多样性”的一部分。