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Quantitative assessment of the geodiversity of M’Goun UNESCO Geopark, Central High Atlas (Morocco)

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Abstract

Geodiversity is an essential parameter in the creation and development of a region’s geotourism activities. In order to quantify abiotic elements, it is necessary to establish geodiversity assessment tools. This may provide effective means of land management and protection of natural geoheritage, as well as setting geoconservation priorities. Our work aims to quantitatively assess geodiversity in the M’Goun UNESCO Geopark by applying two methods. The first is based on the quantification and sum of four geodiversity components: geological diversity (rocks, minerals, and fossils), geomorphodiversity (topography and landforms), pedodiversity (soils), and hydrodiversity (surface water and groundwater) through a grid superimposed on the various thematic maps of the M’Goun Geopark. The second method consists of a multi-criteria hierarchical analysis technique to identify the weights of each sub-element (rocks, minerals, fossils, topography, landforms, surface water, groundwater, and soils) in the calculation of the geodiversity index. Both methods used in this study have shown the richness and distribution of geodiversity elements throughout the M’Goun Geopark territory and also provide valuable information on areas with a high geodiversity index, which can help geopark managers to establish geoconservation strategies for the region.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the anonymous reviewers who provided valuable comments and critiques for improving the quality of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EGGPG, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco

    Aymane Elkaichi & Ezzoura Errami

  2. GOTS, Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Safi, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco

    Ezzoura Errami

  3. Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

    Nilanchal Patel

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  1. Aymane Elkaichi
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Correspondence to Aymane Elkaichi.

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Elkaichi, A., Errami, E. & Patel, N. Quantitative assessment of the geodiversity of M’Goun UNESCO Geopark, Central High Atlas (Morocco). Arab J Geosci 14, 2829 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09235-0

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