Assessment and geoconservation of paleontological heritage in Northern Tocantins and Southwestern Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

In the central-northern region of Brazil, specifically in the northern part of the state of Tocantins and the southwestern part of the state of Maranhão, there are known fossiliferous outcrops of notable scientific importance. These include the Natural Monument of the Fossilized Trees of Tocantins, in Filadélfia (Permian); the geosite containing theropod dinosaur footprints in Fortaleza dos Nogueiras, Maranhão (Triassic); and the geosite containing sauropod dinosaur footprints in Itaguatins, Tocantins (Cretaceous). Assessments of the scientific value, degradation risk, and potential for educational and touristic use were carried out on these geosites. The methodology used for quantification was available on the Geossit website, administered by the Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM). Overall, the geosites obtained moderate to high scientific value and educational and touristic use potential, with low degradation risk for the outcrops of the Tocantins Fossilized Trees Natural Monument, medium for the Theropoda footprints, and high for the Sauropoda footprints. Geoconservation actions are proposed for each of these areas to make a pragmatic contribution, through the paleontological heritage, to socioeconomic development and the protection of the natural heritage of the area under study.