Spatial Patterns of Geodiversity and Their Relevance to Land Management in Mount Cangshan Global Geopark

Geodiversity assessment has become an important tool for understanding the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic elements and supporting conservation and land-use planning in protected areas. This study presents a comprehensive geodiversity assessment of the Mount Cangshan Global Geopark in Dali, Yunnan Province, China. The primary objective was to develop a quantitative geodiversity evaluation model based on spatial density metrics, addressing existing gaps in subjective and non-reproducible assessment methods. The study integrates four key dimensions of geodiversity: geological units, structural geomorphology, hydrogeology, and soils and land cover. By employing a hybrid AHP-CRITIC method to assign both subjective and objective weights to indicators, the study computes the Geodiversity Index (GDI) to quantify and map geodiversity across the geopark. Results show significant spatial heterogeneity, with high-geodiversity areas concentrated in the central and northern regions, primarily driven by tectonic and geological complexity and glacial, fluvial, and hydrological processes. The results indicate that the GDI can be used as a reliable tool for geosite delineation, heritage management, and sustainable tourism development. The findings provide a framework for geodiversity assessment and support landscape-level land-use zoning, conservation prioritization and sustainable land management in mountain geoparks.