Qualitative-Quantitative Assessment of Geodiversity of Western Samoa (SW Pacific) to Identify Places of Interest for Further Geoconservation, Geoeducation, and Geotourism Development

The assessment of geodiversity is a relatively new field research connecting abiotic aspects nature to the wider environment. study still in development, so uniform and complete paradigm remains be defined. Therefore, an may highly dependent on territory subject study, available databases, researchers’ specialization. main quantitative method for was proposed scientific world only few years ago relevant some places world, rather than all, which would desirable. However, while similarities methods apparent, directions, scales, data utilized are clearly different. This article demonstrates quantitative-qualitative geodiversity, based five-point evaluation system utilization widely standard databases such as geological maps, SRTM models, satellite images. Western Samoa Islands (Savai’i Upolu Islands) were selected assessment, typical example basaltic ocean island volcanism generating homogenous rock formations gradual geomorphology (e.g., shield volcano). While initially appearing region simple geology morphology, complexity added by considering ages, position type eruptive centres, coastal geoenvironment. By these factors, becomes specifically tailoring islands Samoa. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated methodology general with additional improvements take account variability other factors.