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Geotourism is a growing activity in Brazil, mainly in Conservation Units, where trails are used by both visitors and local people to access geotourist attractions. The use of these trails can have negative impacts when there is inadequate planning and management. This research investigated two geotourist trails: Caixa D’Aco natural pool trail in Serra da Bocaina National Park (Rio de Janeiro State) and Agua Branca waterfall trail in Serra do Mar State Park (Sao Paulo State). Geodiversity values were assessed at both geosites, adopting the methods of Gray (2004, 2013). Soil quality analysis was also conducted, with physico-chemical analyses of soils from 0 to 10 cm depth. The dominant soil texture on Caixa D’Aco natural pool trail is sandy clay loam, and on Agua Branca trail, all samples were coarse sandy loams. Soils on Caixa D’Aco natural pool trail were compact, with a mean bulk density of 1.41 g/cm3, whereas on Agua Branca trail, the mean value was 1.19 g/cm3. The geodiversity values at both sites were similar, except for supporting services, where Caixa D’Aco natural pool had a medium value, whereas Agua Branca waterfall had a high value. This paper stresses the importance of geoconservation studies in publicizing the geoheritage of Brazilian Conservation Units.

Soil erosion and land degradation are global problems and pose major issues in many countries. Both soil erosion and mass movement are two forms of land degradation and humans play important roles in these geomorphological processes. This paper reviews slope processes associated with mass movement and soil erosion and contributory factors, including physical and human agents. Acting together, these cause diverse geomorphological features. Slope processes are illustrated by reference to case studies from Brazil and UK. The causes and impacts of erosion are discussed, along with appropriate remedial bioengineering methods and the potential of the measures to prevent these types of environmental degradation. Although there are several agents of erosion, water is the most important one. Cultivation can promote soil erosion, due to ploughing and harvesting, which moves soil down slopes. Soil erosion and mass movement data would inform the viability of soil conservation practices. Integrated management of drainage basins offers a promising way forward for effective soil conservation and soil remedial bioengineering in Brazil and UK.

Soil erosion and land degradation are global problems and pose major problems in Brazil, which is characterized by a great diversity of soil types. This chapter discusses gully erosion and land degradation in Brazil, outlining a case study from Sao Luis City, Maranhao State. This diversity is related to a wide variety of landforms, climates, parent materials, vegetation cover and biota and is influenced by land use and management. Therefore, a brief description of different types of land degradation, mainly gully erosion and mass movements, is presented, and illustrative photographs are presented. These hazards affect both urban and rural areas within the extensive national territory (8,547,403 km2). Consequently, these problems have serious environmental impacts and pose socio-economic challenges.

Areas contaminated by heavy metals were identified in the El-Gharbia Governorate (District) of Egypt. Identification used remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as the main research tools. Digital Elevation Models (DEM), Landsat 8 and contour maps were used to map physiographic units. Nine soil profiles were sampled in different physiographic units in the study area. Geochemical analysis of the 33 soil samples was conducted using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). Vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were measured. V, Ni and Cr concentrations exceeded recommended safety values in all horizons of the soil profiles, while Cu had a variable distribution. Zn concentrations slightly exceeded recommended concentration limits. Concentrations were mapped in each physiographic unit using the inverse distance weighted (IDW) function of Arc-GIS 10.1 software. Pollution levels were closely associated with industry and urban areas.

Heavy metal contamination in the El-Gharbia Governorate (District) of Egypt was identified by using remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry as the main research tools. Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Landsat 8 and contour map images were used to map the landforms. Different physiographic units in the study area are represented by nine soil profiles. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was used for geochemical analysis of 33 soil samples. Vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were measured and they all exceeded the average global concentrations identified by Wedepohl (1995). Ni and Cr concentrations exceeded recommended values in all soil profile horizons (Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines, 2007), while Cu had a variable distribution. Zn concentrations are under recommended concentration limits in most soil samples. Contamination Factor, Pollution Load Index and Degree of Contamination indices were used to assess the environmental risks of heavy metal contamination from the soils. All analysed metals pose some potential hazard and pollution levels were particularly high near industrial and urban areas.