During the 38th General Conference of UNESCO, the Member States ratified the creation of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) expressing governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner. In this context, the importance of human interactions with the natural environment to promote healthy lifestyles was primarily a response to the need to preserve and enhance the value of the UNESCO Global Geoparks as well as highlighting their usefulness for the sustainable development of local populations. The aim of this paper is to suggest an interdisciplinary approach to be applied to UNESCO Global Geoparks for a standardized survey and grading methodology that can be used to assess the ability to provide and promote healthy lifestyles, which is called the Ecosystem’s Health Provision Spectrum (EHPS) on an ecological scale. The suggested EHPS is in line with UNESCO’s priorities, in particular with the IGGP and its motto of “Geosciences in the Service of Society”. Therefore, the EHPS on an ecological scale will be another important tool for the UNESCO Global Geoparks, facilitating efficient management and promoting economic development, wellbeing and health.

A weathering study of a fractured environment composed of granites and metasediments was conducted in Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (north of Portugal) and covered the hydrographic basin of Sordo river. Within the basin, a number of perennial springs were monitored for discharge rate, which allowed for the estimation of annual recharges. A small area of the basin was characterized for parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and effective porosity, which, in combination with the previously calculated recharges, allowed for the calculation of a fracture surface area. The monitored springs were also sampled and analyzed for major inorganic compounds, and using a mole balance model the chemistry of the water samples was explained by weathering to kaolinite of albiteoligoclase plus biotite (granites) or of albite plus chlorite (metasediments). The number of moles of dissolved primary minerals (e.g. albite) could be calculated using this method. These mass transfers were then multiplied by the spring's median discharge rate and divided by the fracture surface area to obtain a weathering rate. Another weathering rate was determined, but using a BET surface area as normalizing factor. Comparing both rates with a representative record of laboratory as well as of field-based weathering rates, it has been noted that rates normalized by the BET were, as expected, similar to commonly reported field-based rates, whereas rates normalized by the fracture surface area were unexpectedly relatively close to laboratory rates (one order of magnitude smaller). The monitored springs are of the fracture artesian type, which means that water emerging at the spring site flowed preferentially through joints and fractures and that weathering took place predominantly at their walls. Consequently, it was concluded that the most realistic weathering rates are those normalized by the fracture surface area, and as a corollary that the gap between laboratory and field weathering rates might not be as wide as usually is reported to be.

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A combination of water balances and rainfall-runoff regressions is used to calculate infiltration (I), overland flow (Q s), base flow (Q g) and change to the surface water reservoir ( s), on a monthly basis; evapotranspiration from the underground reservoir (ET m), on an annual basis; and a lag phase of maximum I and maximum Q g (t g) within a hydrological year. The water balance equations are written for catchment areas shaped on crystalline rocks and located in temperate climates. The regression lines are fitted to precipitations (P) and river flows (Q r). The model is tested with the Corgo river hydrographic basin, a small watershed in the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro province, north of Portugal. The results are (values in mm y-1): I = 345.8, Q s = 444.2, Q g = 303.1,  s = 0.5 (steady state), ET m = 42 and t g = 4 months. They compare favourably with results of other groups, working under similar environmental conditions.