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The Geoheritage of Northwestern Central Morocco Area: Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Geosites for Geoconservation, Geotourism, Geopark Purpose and the Support of Sustainable Development

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Abstract

Throughout the course of the last years, geoconservation is increasingly becoming on the A-list of topics holding more and more attention, given its importance on geoheritage regarding several scales: conservation, geotourism, geoeducation, and local development. Central Moroccan massif is one of the Variscan massifs that amass a number of geosites (sedimentological, basin genesis, petrographical, paleoclimate …) allowing the understanding of the relevant period of the Earth’s evolution and the geodynamics of the area, as well as, it contains geosites from the Ediacarian to Quaternary. In this perspective, the current work aimed to identify priority sites for geoconservation actions, geoeducation, and geotourism. All geological sites were inventoried and evaluated by a quantitative assessment relying on the scientific value, the degradation risk, the educational and touristic potential uses regarding both the protection priorities and the use management. The inventory of geosites and their quantitative assessment were performed by the method of Brilha (Geoheritage 8:119–134, 2016). The takeaways of this work may help improve the sustainable development of the area through the establishment of geopark, the implement of a geoconservation strategy and the geotourism action plan. In addition, it could be the path to achieve a global target of the sustainable goals in the Central Morocco area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Geosciences and Applications, Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik, University Hassan II of Casablanca, B.P.7955, Casablanca, Morocco

    Sakina Mehdioui, Hassan El Hadi & Noura Zoraa

  2. Laboratory of Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Heritage, Scientific institute, Geophysics, Natural Patrimony and Green Chemistry Research Center (GEOPAC), Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

    Abdelfatah Tahiri

  3. Dynamics of the Lithosphere and Genesis of Resources Laboratory (DLGR), Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Prince Moulay Abdellah Boulevard, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech, Morocco

    Hind El Haibi

  4. Laboratory of Geoscience, Water and Environment, Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

    Mounia Tahiri

  5. Department of Geology, Nouakchott Al Aasriya University, Nouakchott, Mauritania

    Ahmed Hamoud

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  1. Sakina Mehdioui
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Mehdioui, S., Hadi, H.E., Tahiri, A. et al. The Geoheritage of Northwestern Central Morocco Area: Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Geosites for Geoconservation, Geotourism, Geopark Purpose and the Support of Sustainable Development. Geoheritage 14, 86 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-022-00712-w

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