diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index 69f597fd..a58f9ddc 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-# Requirements as of October 2023
+# Requirements as of July 2024
 name: gemgis_env
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies: 
-  - python>=3.10
-  # geopandas will also install numpy, pandas, shapely, fiona, and pyproj
-  - geopandas>=0.14.0
+  - python>=3.11
+  # geopandas will also install numpy, pandas, shapely, pyogrio, and pyproj
+  - geopandas>=1.0.1
   # rasterio will also install affine
-  - rasterio>=1.3.8
+  - rasterio>=1.3.10
   # pyvista also install pooch and matplotlib
-  - pyvista>=0.42.2
+  - pyvista>=0.44.1
   - gemgis>=1.1
diff --git a/environment_dev.yml b/environment_dev.yml
index 11c6b989..c01a36dc 100644
--- a/environment_dev.yml
+++ b/environment_dev.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ name: gemgis_dev_env
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
-  - python>=3.10
-  # geopandas will also install numpy, pandas, shapely, fiona, and pyproj
-  - geopandas>=0.14.0
+  - python>=3.11
+  # geopandas will also install numpy, pandas, shapely, pyogrio, and pyproj
+  - geopandas>=1.0.1
   # rasterio will also install affine
   #- rasterio>=1.3.8 will be installed through rioxarray
   # pyvista also install pooch and matplotlib
diff --git a/gemgis/vector.py b/gemgis/vector.py
index e421aec2..0f8105e6 100644
--- a/gemgis/vector.py
+++ b/gemgis/vector.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 import geopandas as gpd
 from gemgis.raster import sample_from_array, sample_from_rasterio
 from typing import Union, List, Tuple, Optional, Sequence, Collection
-import fiona
 import pyvista as pv
 
 __all__ = [geometry]
@@ -7194,6 +7193,13 @@ def load_gpx(path: str,
 
     """
 
+    # Trying to import fiona but returning error if fiona is not installed
+    try:
+        import fiona
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        raise ModuleNotFoundError(
+            'fiona package is not installed. Use pip install fiona to install the latest version')
+
     # Checking that the path is of type string
     if not isinstance(path, str):
         raise TypeError('The path must be provided as string')
@@ -7275,6 +7281,13 @@ def load_gpx_as_dict(path: str,
 
     """
 
+    # Trying to import fiona but returning error if fiona is not installed
+    try:
+        import fiona
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        raise ModuleNotFoundError(
+            'fiona package is not installed. Use pip install fiona to install the latest version')
+
     # Checking that the path is of type string
     if not isinstance(path, str):
         raise TypeError('The path must be provided as string')
@@ -7342,6 +7355,13 @@ def load_gpx_as_geometry(path: str,
 
     """
 
+    # Trying to import fiona but returning error if fiona is not installed
+    try:
+        import fiona
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        raise ModuleNotFoundError(
+            'fiona package is not installed. Use pip install fiona to install the latest version')
+
     # Checking that the path is of type string
     if not isinstance(path, str):
         raise TypeError('The path must be provided as string')
@@ -7375,6 +7395,8 @@ def load_gpx_as_geometry(path: str,
 
     return shape
 
+#def load_gpx_as_gdf():
+
 
 # Miscellaneous Functions
 #########################
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 2af1968c..03afcaf4 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-# Requirements as of October 2023
+# Requirements as of July 2024
 
 # geopandas will also install numpy, pandas, shapely, fiona, and pyproj
-geopandas>=0.14.0
+geopandas>=1.0.1
 
 # rasterio will also install affine
-rasterio>=1.3.8
+rasterio>=1.3.10
 
 # pyvista also install pooch and matplotlib
-pyvista>=0.42.2
\ No newline at end of file
+pyvista>=0.44.1
\ No newline at end of file