Assessment of Geosites in Northern Morocco: Diversity and Richness with Potential for Socioeconomic Development

Assessment of Geosites in Northern Morocco: Diversity and Richness with Potential for Socioeconomic Development

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 resil...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geoheritage Vol. 12; no. 4
Main Authors: Salhi, Adil, Alilou, Mohamed Rida, Benabdelouahab, Sara, Vila-Subirós, Josep, Sala, Pere, Benabdelouahab, Tarik, Himi, Mahjoub, Casas Ponsati, Albert
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2020
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Biogeosciences
Development projects
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Historical Geology
Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning
Mineralogy
Natural resources
Original Article
Paleontology
Physical Geography
Rural areas
Socioeconomics
Urban areas
Geoheritage
Morocco
Geomorphosites
Socioeconomic development
Assessment
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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.
ISSN:1867-2477
1867-2485
DOI:10.1007/s12371-020-00512-0