International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks最新文献

Protected areas experienced changes in visitor flows after the easing of worldwide mobility restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changing context added complexity to the functioning of these areas, so the entities involved in visitor management had to adopt protocols to contain the virus, as well as mechanisms to deal with the consequences of fluctuations in mobility flows in these areas. This study aims to analyze visitor management practices in protected areas of the Tarragona Province in Spain, in the context of the pandemic and as experienced by managers. We utilized a two-phase participatory methodology, initially employing a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequently conducting a focus group. Our findings revealed that concerns hindering visitor management before the pandemic not only remained relevant but worsened during this period. Managers faced organizational concerns, including poor communication among stakeholders or staff limitations. Visitor-related concerns also arose, such as changes in leisure and behavioral patterns that resulted in crowds and damage in sensitive areas. These concerns led to mostly reactive responses, with a strong reliance on strategies such as enforcement and regulation of visitor use and mobility. The findings provide useful information on the management approaches put into practice, as well as on opportunities to improve strategies for the sustainable management of visitors in protected areas.

Although geoheritage is gaining importance wordwide, much appreciation is still required for the overlooked geoheritage resources. The geoheritage of Saudi Arabia is promising and gaining much attention towards geoconversation and geotourism, but thematic publications are limited compared to the global context. This paper aims to identify the relevant geosites in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN theme and propose a geoheritage strategic plan. For identification of the geosite published literature and online material, including web blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and governmental websites followed. For the strategic plan for known/unknown geosite, published literature from established geoparks with similar key landforms has been reviewed. Seven IUCN themes can be linked with the geoheritage of Saudi Arabia. Most of these sites are local tourist spots, therefore, immense potential for the geotourism development. The key geomorphological heritage in Saudi Arabia is volcanic harrat, escarpment, cave, mesas, butte, pinnacle, canyon, island, aeolian dune, and submarine corals. Geological heritage includes various fossils in Tuwaiq Mountain. Submarine geoheritage includes different colourful corals and rock structures with high scientific value. Biodiversity-protected areas and cultural heritage site enhances the geoheritage value of the geosite, and enhance the geotourism importance.

Ijen Geopark, also known as “Sunrise of Java,” is situated on the eastern tip of Java. Twelve geosites of the geopark are located in Banyuwangi Regency, while the left are situated in Bondowoso Regency. This paper aims to inventory and conduct a geosites quantitative assessment in Ijen Geopark in Banyuwangi Regency. A four-step model, comprising scientific value, potential educational value, potential tourism value, and degradation risk, is utilized for the quantitative assessment of the geosites. Geological characteristics of the twelve geosites have been inventoried. Ijen Acidic Crater Lake is the most valuable geosite in scientific terms. The publication of International papers can enhance the scientific score, particularly for geosites with a final scientific score below 300. All geosites in Ijen Geopark are potential for both education and tourism purposes, as they have final scores higher than 300. The Intrusive Rock Pulau Merah, despite facing moderate challenges related to population density and uniqueness, has been shown to have the greatest potential for both educational and tourism purposes. The geosites within Ijen Geopark are relatively protected from deterioration, with a total deterioration risk score of less than 250. The study supports the efforts of local and national governments in promoting economic development.

The Devonian outcrops of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin are located in the eastern band of the Moroccan Central Massif. They are characterized by a high geodiversity since they show sedimentary, stratigraphic, paleontological, tectonic and geomorphological aspects. Those outcrops allow the understanding of the evolution and geodynamic of the area during the Devonian. This prove their relevant in term of scientific value. In addition, they have also educational and touristic interests. The objectives of this work are making the inventory and quantitative assessment as well as the mapping of nine Devonian geosites. To approach the topic, the method proposed by Brilha (2016) have been used which based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. The results show that the geosite Famennian zebra griottes limestones of Ziyar has the highest scientific value (345) while the others are characterized by scientific, educational and tourist values ranging from moderate to high. Regarding the degradation risk, the geosites have a low value. This work could be considered as the base of any geoconservation strategy and geotourism action plan in the area since it focused on the two first steps of it. This may help to improve the sustainable development through the establishment of geopark consequently the enhancement of economical level of people living the Azrou-Khenifra area.

The present study is part of a reflective approach that examines and compares two popular geo-destinations in Moroccan central High Atlas, the Aït Bouguemaz and Zaouiat Ahansal-Taghia valleys, using the Geosite Assessment Model (GAM). The model uses two indicators, main values and additional values, with 12 and 15 sub-indicators, respectively. The results show that the Aït Bouguemaz Valley has high principal values (9.75) and moderate additional values (8.25), while the Ahansal-Taghia Valley has moderate principal values (8) and additional values (5.25). This work shows that despite the high scientific and aesthetic values of these two geo-destinations, there is still much to be improved, especially concerning functional and tourism values, in particular, management and planning, as well as infrastructure as a basis for geotourism development.

Traditionally, absence heritage or heritage of absence has been used for purposeful erasure of tangible and intangible elements related primarily to affective heritage and dark heritage. Current observations, however, have indicated that there is no exact definition of such heritage, persons seem to indicate absence or presence depending on the particular scenario. This limitation arises because there is heritage that is absent purely by accident, there is heritage that is purposefully erased, heritage that is forgotten or destroyed by natural, man-made disasters, war or simply heritage that has been modified or rewritten to suit interests; all of which can affect psychology, identity and resilience. These instances of erasure include natural and man-made disasters, climate change, and museum collections held in trust for protection and preservation, to name a few. This paper recommends the extension of the current use and proposition of a definition of absence heritage to provide a more holistic view of the state of affairs. The paper presents an overview of current use, and reasons, using global examples, to aid in formulating a definition and expanding the use with strategies to reduce or mitigate erasure. With this, awareness and resilience can be built in any society.

The Matterhorn, a famous mountain in the Swiss Alps is a well characterized geomorphosite, presenting both an important scientific interest and aesthetic, cultural and economic values in Switzerland. The main scientific issues concerning the Matterhorn are its place in the tectonic history of the Alps, the carving of a residual pyramid by glacial erosion and the effects of melting of high mountain permafrost on mountaineering. To answer those questions, two “tools” were used, the field work and the bibliographic investigations. The Matterhorn played, from its first ascent in 1865 until today, a very special role in the history of mountaineering, and its remarkable shape has become iconic in Switzerland. As a consequence, the Matterhorn can be analyzed through four time scales:(1) the deep time of tectonics during the Cenozoic era, which saw the thrusting and piling up of the “Pennine nappes,” due to the collision between African and European plates; (2) the Quaternary period of glacial erosion, which carved the Matterhorn into its distinctive pyramidal peak shape;(3) the Anthropocene time of the thawing of high mountain permafrost; and (4) the era of humans or mountaineering, which spans over than 150 years, from the first ascent in 1865 to the recent achievements of modern mountaineering.

This paper is part of the scope of cultural geodiversity and mobilizes photography in order to understand the role it has played in the knowledge of geodiversity and in the recognition of geoheritage. To carry out this research, four books written and directed by specialists in the photographic medium were used. They allowed us to constitute a corpus of 88 photographs, 48 of which present a geodiversity now included within the limits of a protected area. They were taken between 1853 and 1999. These photographs were specifically analyzed according to three criteria: (1) the geological and geomorphological features that were the subjects of the images; (2) the location of the protected areas represented by these photographs; (3) the place and role of the photographs in the history of this medium (techniques and/or specialties). Three main results emerged from this exploratory study: The first concerned the nature of the elements photographed (typology of forms) and the “proto-geopatrimonialization” of this geodiversity (redundancy of photographs via the constitution of photographic series); the second specifically identified the links between protected areas and geodiversity via geological surveys, West Americans in particular, artistic views of abiotic nature and archaeological explorations; the third result showed the importance of geodiversity in the history of photography, and vice versa.