TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantitative Assessment and Enhancement of 12 Sites of Geological Interest South of Midelt City (Tizi N’Talghemt, Central High Atlas, Morocco)

AU - Ouali, Mohamed El

AU - Essafraoui, Badre

AU - Kabiri, Lahcen

AU - Messaoudi, Badre

AU - Lahssaine, Ismail Ait

AU - Krencker, François-Nicolas

AU - Martindale, Rowan C.

AU - Nutz, Alexis

AU - Bodin, Stéphane

PY - 2025/4/25

Y1 - 2025/4/25

N2 - Morocco offers a wealth of biological, geological, and cultural diversity. This manuscript focuses on strengthening the information about the geological heritage in the northeastern part of the Central High Atlas, south of Midelt City, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region. This work consists of identifying, characterizing, and quantifying the significance of twelve sites of geological interest in the Tizi N’Talghemt area. The quantitative analysis is based on each site’s scientific value, potential for educational and tourist use, and degradation risk. Four Geosites with very high scientific value and eight Geodiversity sites with considerable potential for academic and tourist activities have been identified. All sites offer significant scientific, educational, and tourist potential and deserve rigorous protection to prevent degradation. Our goal is to expan the strategy of the Moroccan National Program for Geology MNPG-2030 and reinforce UNESCO’s guidelines for preserving the national geological heritage. Incorporating our conclusions into local and regional development plans will help raise the region’s visibility and enhance its attractiveness while preserving these endangered geological treasures. Our recommendations are meant to promote and protect the area’s geological heritage; they represent a crucial tool that local decision-makers should consider when planning the region’s development in the future.

AB - Morocco offers a wealth of biological, geological, and cultural diversity. This manuscript focuses on strengthening the information about the geological heritage in the northeastern part of the Central High Atlas, south of Midelt City, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region. This work consists of identifying, characterizing, and quantifying the significance of twelve sites of geological interest in the Tizi N’Talghemt area. The quantitative analysis is based on each site’s scientific value, potential for educational and tourist use, and degradation risk. Four Geosites with very high scientific value and eight Geodiversity sites with considerable potential for academic and tourist activities have been identified. All sites offer significant scientific, educational, and tourist potential and deserve rigorous protection to prevent degradation. Our goal is to expan the strategy of the Moroccan National Program for Geology MNPG-2030 and reinforce UNESCO’s guidelines for preserving the national geological heritage. Incorporating our conclusions into local and regional development plans will help raise the region’s visibility and enhance its attractiveness while preserving these endangered geological treasures. Our recommendations are meant to promote and protect the area’s geological heritage; they represent a crucial tool that local decision-makers should consider when planning the region’s development in the future.

KW - Geological heritage

KW - Local sustainable development

KW - Morocco

KW - Preservation

KW - Quantitative assessment

KW - Tizi N'Talghemt area

KW - Value

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003844286&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12371-025-01105-5

DO - 10.1007/s12371-025-01105-5

M3 - Article

VL - 17

JO - GEOHERITAGE

JF - GEOHERITAGE

SN - 1867-2477

IS - 2

M1 - 63

ER -