Assessment of Geosites in Northern Morocco: Diversity and Richness with Potential for Socioeconomic Development
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Assessment of Geosites in Northern Morocco: Diversity and Richness with Potential for Socioeconomic Development Adil Salhi 1 & Mohamed Rida Alilou 1 & Sara Benabdelouahab 2 & Josep Vila-Subirós 3 & Pere Sala 4 & Tarik Benabdelouahab 5 & Mahjoub Himi 2 & Albert Casas Ponsati 2 Received: 4 May 2020 / Accepted: 29 September 2020 # The European Association for Conservation of the Geological Heritage 2020
Abstract Despite the importance of geoheritage as an interdisciplinary geo-based topic, it is poorly documented as a tool of harmonious socioeconomic development and territorial strategic planning. The promotion of this natural resource in rural areas of the southern Mediterranean may strengthen social resilience and consolidate management strategies if it is conducted according to a responsible and sustainable approach that takes account of local specificities. Here, an exhaustive, multi-criteria and qualitative assessment of the geomorphological sites of the large Alpine Rif belt was established to assess their scientific and additional values based on a widely adopted score ranking method. Later, a restricted list was established of the most outstanding sites based on qualitative conditions. This list contains 39 sites which may be linked in three thematic geocircuits to serve as gathering points for initiatives and development projects. We anticipate that this may create an economic diversity to revive a social fabric capable of satisfying its needs and expectations, reducing the gap and inequalities between disadvantaged rural areas upstream and industrialized urban areas downstream, and inspiring a benign and balanced development. Keywords Geoheritage . Geomorphosites . Assessment . Socioeconomic development . Morocco
Introduction The patrimonialization of geoheritage is the result of a perception process that makes a territorial element be recognized by society as being important to conserve and to be transmitted to future generations (Reynard and Giusti 2018). In this sense, geoheritage acts as a centre of meaning and symbolism and builds a sense of belonging and a territorial identity that is fundamental in the creation process of a national identity
(Nogué and Vicente 2004). Despite this importance, the conservation of geoheritage (or geoconservation) has generally not been well integrated within nature conservation initiatives and policies or in environmental management and sustaining resources (Gordon et al. 2018). Actually, the conservation of geoheritage is discussed and enhanced only in some parts of the world (e.g. Europe) but not in others like Africa, where geoheritage is mainly appreciated by a scientific minority while it should be promoted and perceived by a much wider
* Adil Salhi [email protected]
Albert Casas Ponsati [email protected]
Sara Benabdelouahab [email protected]
1
Geography and Development Group, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Martil, Morocco
Josep Vila-Subirós [email protected]
2
Pere Sala [email protected]
Economic and Environmental G
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