The Atlas of Beni Mellal is located in the Moroccan central High Atlas, characterized by an important geo-diversity that attracts tourists every year. However, the number of visitors remains limited due to the lack of the promotion means, enhancement and mediation of this heritage. The obtained data indicate that the studied area preserves a great number of karst geosites, such as ruiniform landscapes, caves, poljes, sinkholes, Karren, shaft cave and many remarkable reliefs such as canyons and cliffs. This work concerns the inventory, the quantitative evaluation and the enhancement of the remarkable geomorphosites. The results reveal the presence of 21 sites, including six karst forms; five ruiniform landscapes and one karren form, one enviable panoramic viewpoint and five karst springs, four caves, two travertines, two waterfalls, and one structural relief geosite; canyon, and one tepee structures. However, these sites are not protected against all types of degradation, because the general public does not recognize them. These karst forms are very vulnerable, they cannot reproduce quickly, and their deterioration leads to their permanent disappearance. That is why this heritage must be the object of a particular attention of the whole community. The valorisation of these geomorphologic assets is the proposal of a number of circuits and geo-tourist routes from the perspective of local and integrated development.
The travertines of El Ksiba forming cliffs with an extension of about 8 km and a variable height that can reach about thirty meters. They are developed on lacustrine limestones and conglomerates of Early Quaternary age. The results reveal the high scientific (≃0.88) and aesthetic (≃0.88) values related to the strong representativeness of the regional geological phenomena. The assessment also shows the high economic value (≃0.75) and cultral (≃0.81). In this work, we presented the strategies of valorization and protection of this heritage in the framework of rural socioeconomic development through activities related to geo-tourism and geo-education.
The Ouzoud syncline, in central Morocco, is one of the kingdom's wealthiest areas of natural and cultural heritage. This syncline has significant potential for geotourism development; it contains the Ouzoud waterfalls, one of the most coveted tourist attractions, which are part of the geosites listed in the M'Goun Unesco Geopark. The abundance of resurgences, waterfalls, travertine, caves, magmatic rocks, exceptional geomorphological forms, and fascinating panoramic views make this territory a suitable tourist destination for excursions, hiking and climbing, and a good support for understanding the geological history of the central High Atlas (CHA) of Morocco and paleoclimate changes. The dense and diversified vegetation cover offers a habitat for various animals (magot monkeys, bats, birds), which attracts more nature-loving tourists. This exceptional geo-biodiversity and cultural wealth (traditional mills and the Zaouïa of Tanaghmelt) that may constitute a lever for local socio-economic development remain unknown to the public and not well exploited by managers. Hence, this study attempted to inventory and assess interest sites for providing a database that help decision-makers in in territorial planning and geoheritage conservation and promotion. Thus, about twenty highly attractive geosites were inventoried, eight of which (the most important ones) were selected for evaluation using the Reynard et al. (2016) methodology. This approach considers the scientific value, the additional values, and the use and management values of sites. Such promotion can popularise the geosciences and create income-generating activities, which will improve the economic situation of the local population
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