Mapping Geosites for Geoheritage Management: A Methodological Proposal for the Regional Park of Picos de Europa (León, Spain)

Abstract

Mapping is a basic requirement for land use management, as effective protection of nature requires a clear delimitation of the sites involved. Additionally, mapping has other benefits for the transfer of information, as long as it is a comprehensible way of information exchange. The knowledge of geoheritage (geological heritage) and how it can be incorporated into the management of natural areas is an emerging topic. In this paper, a methodology that can be used to map geoheritage is proposed through the example of the Regional Park of Picos de Europa (Spain). Cartography is designed to be used as a tool for both prescriptive geoheritage management and land use planning processes in the protected area. The current examples of mapping consist of two groups of maps: (1) basic descriptive maps, where geosites are represented and which offer an overview of the geoheritage in the territory and (2) applied derived maps, which use the previous base cartography but also implement specific queries for management. Information codified in the derived maps may be diverse, ranging from the geosite degradation risk to the most adequate geosite use. The designed maps also achieve an important aim: They are easily interpreted and, therefore, might be used by many different professionals involved in environmental management.

Community Involvement in Geoconservation: A Conceptual Approach Based on the Geoheritage of South Angola

“…Panizza [37], Reynard [38], Fuertes-Gutiérrez and Fernández-Martínez [39] and Brilha [13], among others, privilege quantitative-oriented approaches, while others highlight the inventory incommensurability based on social, aesthetic, economic, educational and functional criteria [40][41][42][43]. Some studies also point to the paradoxes of dealing with the strategies of conservation and the practical experiences, in the long-term run-up to social-ecological changes [44,45].…”

Geosite of a steep lava spatter cone of the 1256 AD, Al Madinah eruption, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…Such distinction naturally creates a system from the simplest geological and geomorphological features to more complex systems that can form the basis to developing geoconservational, geoeducational and geotouristic programs. The smallest unit in such systems is the geosite [20][21][22][23] or geomorphosite [24][25][26] reflecting the nature of the feature classified (e.g., of geological or geomorphological importance). In this respect, geosites or geomorphosites are normally single/simple geologically and/or geomorphologically important features unique in representativeness, scientific interest, rarity, landscape value and educational value; moreover, they are relatively easy to access [25,27,28].…”

Scientific Basis of the Geoheritage and Geotouristic Values of the 641 AD Al Madinah Eruption Site in the Al Madinah Volcanic Field, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…Geological (and/or geomorphological) sites have just been started to be catalogued following the geosite (geomorphosites), geotop and geopark concept that has been successfully used elsewhere [30,[35][36][37]. Recently initiated projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have identified and documented many volcanic geosites that are significant in their context, such as significant in comparison to the host volcanic region where they are located, as well as carrying values that make them internationally important volcanic features to contribute to the global understanding of specific volcanic processes [7].…”