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

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Abstract

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.

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Funding

This research was funded by the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST, Morocco) (contract numbers PPR/11/2015 and IK/2018/48).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography and Development Group, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Martil, Morocco

    Adil Salhi & Mohamed Rida Alilou

  2. Economic and Environmental Geology and Hydrology Group, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Sara Benabdelouahab, Mahjoub Himi & Albert Casas Ponsati

  3. Environment and Geographic Information Technologies Group, University of Girona, Girona, Spain

    Josep Vila-Subirós

  4. Landscape Observatory of Catalonia, Olot, Spain

    Pere Sala

  5. National Institute of Agronomic Research, Rabat, Morocco

    Tarik Benabdelouahab

Authors
  1. Adil Salhi
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  2. Mohamed Rida Alilou
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  3. Sara Benabdelouahab
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  4. Josep Vila-Subirós
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  5. Pere Sala
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  6. Tarik Benabdelouahab
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  7. Mahjoub Himi
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  8. Albert Casas Ponsati
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Contributions

A.S. and M.R.A. conceived and designed the research. A.S. supervised the fieldwork carried out by M.R.A. Both led the analysis and mapping and wrote the paper with contributions from all the authors. S.B., J.V.S., T.B., P.S., M.H. and A.C.P. provided guidance on mapping, writing the manuscript and interpreting the results.

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Correspondence to Adil Salhi.

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Salhi, A., Alilou, M.R., Benabdelouahab, S. et al. Assessment of Geosites in Northern Morocco: Diversity and Richness with Potential for Socioeconomic Development. Geoheritage 12, 88 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00512-0

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