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The growing body of research on geotourism and geoheritage presents an opportunity to explore the applied strategies for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Geoheritage and geotourism have emerged as concepts that can contribute to these goals by promoting responsible tourism, conservation, and community development. This systematic review critically examines the interrelationships between “geoheritage” and “geotourism” approaches in relation to their integration with the SDGs and broader sustainability considerations within the scholarly domain. A total of 205 research articles, collected from the Scopus database over an 18-year period (2005 to October 2023) were initially identified. Following a comprehensive analysis, 40 articles were found to fully meet the objectives of the systematic literature review and were subsequently included in the main study. Utilizing a meticulous framework based on the PRISMA guidelines, this study scrutinizes and synthesizes these 40 peer-reviewed research articles. It explores the dynamics between geoheritage, geotourism, and their implications for advancing sustainability goals inherent in the SDGs across different landscapes. VOSviewer software was employed for various citation-related network analyses. The discussion features successful case studies in complex topographies such as volcanic regions, mining sites, and deserts that highlight practical strategies for promoting sustainability as suggested in the reviewed articles, while also revealing a notable gap in effective applied strategies. The findings show that the prevailing trend favors inventory-centric investigations, primarily emphasizing quantitative analyses of the geosites. This focus limits the applied policies of geotourism and geoheritage for local communities and regions. The insights derived from this review serve as valuable guidance for both academic and non-academic stakeholders in formulating tactics that underscore the region's untapped geotouristic potential. Furthermore, the review's outcomes hold promise for contributing to the objectives of the Global Geopark Network, particularly in the area of sharing “geopark-related knowledge.”

Waste pickers pick up reusable and recyclable waste from roadsides, dustbins, and landfills and sell it to local scrap dealers to earn money to fulfil their daily needs. Waste pickers do this in very unhygienic and hazardous conditions. This study examines the socio-economic status of waste pickers working in Ghaziabad using the Kuppuswamy SES (2020) scale. For this, 200 waste pickers, including male and female respondents, participated in this study. IBM SPSS software was used to code and analyse the data. Correlation matrix and regression were used for analysis. The research found that although waste pickers are crucial to society, their socio-economic situation is among the lowest. 51% of waste pickers are from the lower middle class, and 42% are from the upper lower class. These waste pickers of our study are underprivileged, illiterate, and live in poor conditions. For a sustainable and decent living, they need the government to satisfy some of their needs, including free medical services, access to clean, fresh water, social safety, and training for alternative employment.

The land use change has affected nearly 32% of the global landscape from 1960 to 2019. Several studies have examined the impacts of land use land cover (LULC) on the surface temperature. Still, the spatiotemporal variation of LULC and LST with altitude is a less researched area. In the current study, we assess the LULC dynamics and its relation to altitudinal LST in the Himalayan Satluj River basin in Himachal Pradesh across the altitudinal range of 332 to 6558 meters. LULC, LST, NDVI, and NDMI were derived from Landsat data for 1980-2020. The spatial pattern was analyzed using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and a mono-window algorithm. The results of LULC denote that snow covered area (SCA) have decreased by nearly 56.19% since 1980 and vegetation cover has increased. However, a decline in vegetation density is pronounced at the same time. The mean surface temperature of the Satluj basin has amplified by 6°C (0.25°C/year) from 1996 to 2020. Mostly Zone 3 and 4 are under high hilly and temperate dry regions in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The most important sign is that the mean surface temperature for Zone 3 (3000m-4500m) and Zone 4 (above 4500m) was the highest increase to 6°C (0.26°C/year) and 8°C (0.31°C/year) from 1996 to 2020. The increase in LST values is attributed to land cover dynamics precisely the decline of snow cover area and the emergence of vegetation zone at higher above the 4500 altitudes. Our study facilitates regional analysis.

Tourism is an important business for contemporary society and is emerging as a major economic activity globally. Technological expansion and economic divergence have created a tourism friendly environment in the present age of globalization. India has a great geographical, historical and cultural heritage that drives tourism in the country. The Varkala cliff is a geoheritge site and popular tourist destination in Kerala where inhabitants earn a means of living by involving them in medical, pilgrim, beaches, and nature-based tourism. The tourist inflow to Varkala has increased tremendously over time. This paper investigates the impact of tourism the on the local community and alternative strategies of livelihood for residents in Varkala. The aims and objectives of the research are achieved through the use of a mixed method approach (qualitative and quantitative). Semi-structured questionnaires were prepared for 100 households and detailed face to face interviews were conducted with the 13 chief informers. Data were analyzed using correlation, regression analysis and ANOVA tests to examine the relationship between tourism and income level of the local community. The major findings of the paper show that tourism is the major source of livelihood for the local communities in Varkala. While the tourism activities in the study area provide a meaningful source of livelihood, it is imperative to find alternative strategies of producing income, due to the instability and seasonality of the tourism industry. The investigation suggests managers within the study area should formulate plans, policies and strategies that will improve the tourism industry and involve local community members in the decision making process and management of tourism activities.

Varkala, along the southwestern coast of Peninsular India, has a unique place in Indian geology and geomorphology due to the presence of coastal lateritic cliffs, which exposes the entire Mio-Pliocene sequence of Warkalli Formation, and is declared as the type area. Stratigraphically, this formation exposes carbonaceous clay with lenses of lignite and sticks of marcasite, followed by variegated clays and sandstone. The presence of variegated lithounits endows beauty to these cliffs. Varkala cliffs, edging the Arabian Sea, run for a length of 7.5 km. These cliffs, together with confined beaches, made Varkala a popular tourist destination. Several geodiversity spots within the Varkala Cliff geoheritage site make Varkala geologically unique, just like the vestiges of the last separation of Indian subcontinent from the Mascarene Plateau; showcasing lateritization and distribution of beach placers, and jarosite, formed as a diagenetic replacement mineral from marcasite and considered as a Martian analog, are distinctiveness of the cliff. Additionally, Varkala is an internationally acclaimed beach tourist destination. Furthermore, there are several geoheritage sites as well as socio-cultural-historical sites in the hinterland of Varkala Cliff geoheritage site, which are within the proposed Varkala Global Geopark jurisdiction. Thus, this area fulfills all the criteria to be a Global Geopark. The socio-economic-environmental analysis showcases the changes that have occurred in these 3-end members. When the economic sphere was unaffected, the social scenario was slightly affected (25%) whereas the environmental aspect then drastically deteriorated by 75%. But, the SWOT analysis still elects Varkala as a potential Global Geopark. The concept of geopark contributes to at least one of the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN). Consequently, this work also aims at propagating, not only the need for converting the geologically prominent areas to a geopark, but also attaining SDG, whatever is possible through geoparks.

Climate vulnerability is the propensity to be adversely affected by climatic variability and natural hazards. People of low-lying islands face accelerating physical and non-physical stresses due to their greater exposure, higher sensitivity, and lower adaptive capacity towards climate change. Being home to over 0.2 million people, Sagar Island, the largest Island of Sundarban, is highly susceptible to coastal erosion, cyclonic storm surges, flooding, and embankment breaching, causing loss of land, property, and livelihood that eventually lead to displacements and induced migration. Over the past two decades, residents of this fragile sinking island of this world's largest mangrove forest have seen their homes engulfed, farmlands salinized and livelihood depleted by the rising sea. This study investigates the association between socio-economic vulnerabilities through the contextual indicators of land loss, productivity loss, loss of livelihood, and induced migration through regression modeling to find out linkages and scopes of risk reduction. The result reflects a significant positive correlation between land loss and loss of livelihood (p 0.0494*) that negatively correlates with the occurrence of in-migration (z −0.826), while the correlation between productivity loss and loss of livelihood is 0.6318. Mouzas like Dhablat, Shibpur, Beguakhali show outlier characteristics due to severe rates of erosion and embankment failure. The secondary data from the India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Ocean Information Services, have been used to identify considerable changes from cumulative erosion and accretion employing statistical and GIS techniques. This bottom-up assessment can contribute to disaster management and policy implications by identifying the particular intercession at the mouza level that increases the resilience of these vulnerable communities to climate change.

Jim Corbett National Park play an important role in ecological sustainability, economic development and livelihood security of local community. Forests worldwide are known to be fundamentally vital territories as far as the organic decent variety. The study wants to know how present status of Jim Corbett National Park, and the level of awareness have impact of forest ecosystem services on livelihood security. The word “livelihood”can be used in many different ways. DFID adjusts a rendition of Chambers Conway's meaning of vocations: “A job involves the capacities, resources and exercises required for a method for living. A vocation is feasible when it can adapt to and recoup from stresses and stuns and keep up or upgrade its abilities and resources both now and later on, while not undermining the regular asset base”. Livelihood plays a determining role in molding the identity of an individual in a society. Without a better livelihood, it is impossible to aim for a better quality of life. The study covers 150 households interviewed from the different villages and town nearby the Jim Corbett National Park. Research paper mainly shows the geographical diversity, social composition of the villages, areas with vulnerability and better practices. The livelihood frame-work of the population under study was analyzed for its sustainability according to the rating of the improvement in five types of capital assets viz. natural, physical, human, financial and social, forming the Asset Pentagon. The study has generate solutions for the problems of forest ecosystem services impact on local livelihood and ecological conditions of the areas where people are fully or partially dependent on forest resources for their livelihood. Keywords: Forest Ecosystem, Sustainability, Livelihood Security, Jim Corbett National Park and Asset Pentagon

A large number of students migrate every year to the University of Delhi to pursue higher studies. Most of these students find accommodation within the vicinity of the university, that is North Campus of the university. Change in their daily diets, induced by the migration, therefore, becomes a critical aspect of determining their physical and mental well-being. The paper aims to examine the changes in their dietary diversity after migration. The principal focus is to analyse the comparative qualitative differences in the diet of the students before and after migration to the University of Delhi. The focus group for the research work comprises randomly selected migrant students from different parts of India, presently living in the North Campus of Delhi. For the primary survey, 100 respondents have been selected from four localities within the North Campus (Vijay Nagar, Malka Ganj, Kamla Nagar, and Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar) to get first-hand information and opinions. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques have been applied to identify the relationship between socio-economic and demographic features of the respondents, and the changes in their dietary diversity have been examined. The findings demonstrate an alarming trend being prevalent across all the four localities—in the consumption of nuts, dry & fresh fruits, and vegetables along with the simultaneous trend of a significant increase in fast-food consumption. The extent of the change varied significantly across the four localities. The highest decline in dietary diversity was observed in Vijay Nagar, whereas Kamla Nagar experienced the least changes in dietary diversity.

The Smart City Mission of Guwahati plains to leverage city’s unique locational advantages to establish its dominance and serve as the hub for the entire North-Eastern region and become a world-class destination in terms of tourism, business, trade, educa-tion and health. To achieve this, the mission plans to use the city’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty as the key anchors not only for attracting tourists, but also to help convert the city’s present infrastructure challenges into opportunities. The main objective of the study is to analyse the presence of basic urban infrastructural facilities necessary for sustainable smart city.The stratified ran-dom sampling of houses in each 31 wards of the study area was conducted using the questionnaires method. The findings includes that public transport has increased approximately from 10 to 30 per cent. Under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) Phase-1 funding 200 buses have been acquired, increasing city’s bus fleet to nearly 2500. Wholesale markets, Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) have been shifted to outskirts to de-congest the city. At present 40 percent have piped water supply for 1 hour a day. City engages NGO’s for door to door solid waste collection, which is transported by GPS enabled vehicles. CCTV Cameras are getting installed at 18 identified locations. GMC is upgrading street lighting infrastructure i.e. LED and Solar lights. 2.59 lakhs hous-es and construction of metro was proposed in Guwahati Master Plan 2025. Bio-Metric attendance machine are operational in almost all government offices. Water pump are used to tackle the flash flood.

Baolis are water reservoir in architectural monuments which had been built by various sultanate of Delhi in different time period and most of Baolis were built during the medieval time period. The Baolis are found throughout the country but all are different in respect of art and architecture. The sultanates of Delhi had built a number of Baolis in Delhi to show their control and prestige in the society. There are about 12 Baolis existing in Delhi and out of them, four Baolis are almost about to extinct and few Baolis such as Nizamuddin, Firoz Shah and Rajon ki Baolis are being used by local people. This paper comprises the information related with Baolis which was built by sultanates of Delhi during the medieval time period in Delhi. Present paper attempts to describe the traditional method of water management as Baolis in medieval period and their present status. Study is based on primary as well secondary sources of information and primary survey and personal observation has been conducted and secondary sources of data and information have been used in this paper. Paper concluded that Baolis are not having good conditions and these are very much polluted and degraded and its degradation also leads the eco hydrological loss in their adjacent areas. The careless approaches of people towards these Baolis are major causes behind the extinction and degradation of these Baolis. The community’s awareness and participation is only way to protect these Baolis from the extinction. Keywords: Baolis; Architectural; Monument; Medieval; Degradation; Eco hydrology; Pollution; Management. PERSPECTIVAS ECOHIDROLÓGICAS DE DEGRADAÇÃO DOS BAOLIS DURANTE O PERÍODO MEDIEVAL EM DELHI: práticas tradicionais de gestão da água RESUMO Baolis são reservatórios de água em monumentos arquitetônicos que tinham sido construídos por vários sultanatos de Delhi em diferentes períodos de tempo e a maioria dos Baolis foram construídos durante a Idade Média. Os Baolis são encontrados em todo o país, mas todos são diferentes no que diz respeito à arte e arquitetura. Os sultanatos de Delhi tinham construído uma série de Baolis na cidade, para mostrar seu controle e prestígio na sociedade. Há 12 Baolis existentes em Delhi e, fora dela, quatro Baolis estão prestes a se extinguir e poucos Baolis, como Nizamuddin, Firoz Shah e Rajon ki, estão sendo usados pela população local. Este artigo compreende a informação relacionada com Baolis, que foi construído por sultanatos de Delhi, durante o período medieval na Índia. O presente artigo tenta descrever o método tradicional de gestão da água como Baolis no período medieval e seu status atual. O estudo baseia-se em fontes primárias e secundárias de informação, pesquisa primária e a observação foi conduzida através de fontes secundárias de dados e informações. Concluiu-se que os Baolis não apresentam boas condições devido à poluição e degradação. Essa degradação também leva à perda ecohidrológica em suas áreas adjacentes. As aproximações descuidadas de pessoas nestes locais são as causas principais por trás da extinção e da degradação destes Baolis. A conscientização e participação da comunidade é apenas uma maneira de proteger esses Baolis da extinção. Palavras-chave: Baolis; Arquitetônico; Monumento; Medieval; Degradação; Ecohidrologia; Poluição; Gestão. PERSPECTIVAS ECOHIDROLÓGICAS DE LA DEGRADACIÓN BAOLIS DURANTE EL PERIODO MEDIEVAL EN DELHI: prácticas tradicionales de la gestión del agua RESUMEN Baolis es el depósito de agua en los monumentos arquitectónicos que habían sido construidos por varios sultanato de Delhi en diferentes períodos de tiempo y la mayoría de Baolis fueron construidos durante el período de tiempo medieval. Los Baolis se encuentran en todo el país, pero todos son diferentes en lo que respecta al arte y la arquitectura. Los sultanatos de Delhi habían construido una serie de Baolis en Delhi para mostrar su control y prestigio en la sociedad. Hay alrededor de 12 Baolis existentes en Delhi y de ellos, cuatro Baolis están a punto de extinguirse y pocos Baolis como Nizamuddin, Firoz Shah y Rajon ki Baolis están siendo utilizados por la gente local. Este artículo comprende la información relacionada con Baolis que fue construida por sultanatos de Delhi durante el período de tiempo medieval en Delhi. El presente trabajo intenta describir el método tradicional de gestión del agua como Baolis en época medieval y su estado actual. El estudio se basa en fuentes primarias y secundarias de información y se realizó una encuesta primaria y personal y se han utilizado fuentes secundarias de datos e información en este documento. El artículo concluyó que Baolis no está teniendo buenas condiciones y estas están muy contaminadas y degradadas y su degradación también conduce a la pérdida ecológica hidrológica en sus áreas adyacentes. Los acercamientos descuidados de la gente hacia estos Baolis son causas principales detrás de la extinción y de la degradación de estos Baolis. La conciencia de la comunidad y la participación es la única manera de proteger a estos Baolis de la extinción. Palabras clave: Baolis; Arquitectónico; Monumento; Medieval; Degradación; Eco hidrología; Contaminación; Manejo.

Urban areas are expanding and cities are becoming more compact due to population growth and migration. Cities in India have experienced rapid growth of population. Physical land use change has been observed today especially in the developing countries that led to shrinking of precious land, where the impact is mostly felt on agriculture land. The growing population was the main driving force of land use change. The study focused on monitoring urban land use change over a period of 45 years (1970-2015), and to assess its impact on agriculture in Imphal city and its surroundings. The study is based on secondary data and intends to identify the process of land use/land cover change over the different time period with the help of GIS imageries. The study found that the build-up area of the city had increased from 22.07 sq.km to 74.16 sq.km while agriculture areas shrank from 54.18 sq.km to 14.26 sq.km during the study period. Without proper planning and management, the excessive population growth will result to unplanned physical expansion towards the fringe areas in all direction.