Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Mots-clés
Maroc
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Anti-Atlas
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opatrimoine
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osite/SISS
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oconservation
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1
Introduction
the consciousness of land managers, governments, scientists,
and the public to the importance of geoheritage, and geo-
conservation, and towards developing strong criteria to
ensure representative and adequate geoconservation of
Earth.
Building on geoheritage from global reviews to local
principles for conservation and planning (Brocx
2008
), a
“
The history of planet Earth since its formation ca 4.6 Ga ago
is recorded in its rocks, fossils, minerals, landscapes, etc.
This story can be read from large scale (e.g., the evolution of
the Andes Mountain Chain), to medium scale (such as the
historically important site at Siccar Point where Hutton
rst
described and conceptualised the importance of unconfo-
rmities; Hutton
1788
), to fascinating aspects at the micro-
scale (e.g., the story inherent in the zoning, corrosion,
inclusions, fracturing-and-healing, and overgrowths of the
Archaean zircons of Jack Hills, the oldest crystals on Earth;
Wilde et al.
2001
). The story of the Earth and its products are
linked to the ongoing history of human development, pro-
viding natural resources, a sense of place, and have scien-
ti
has been
developed to address geological and geomorphological fea-
tures that should be encompassed under the umbrella of
geoheritage (Brocx and Semeniuk
2009
,
2011
). In a given
area, geoheritage features of geoconservation signi
tool-kit
”
, termed here the
“
Geoheritage Tool-kit
”
cance
can range from large- to small-scale, from international to
local in signi
cance, can encompass a wide range of geo-
logical/geomorphological features, and can occur in isola-
tion, or in inter-related suites that should be viewed and
preserved as an ensemble. The Geoheritage Tool-kit has been
designed to systematically address and assess this diversity.
This paper outlines the concepts underpinning the approach
adopted to geoheritage and geoconservation, describes the
Geoheritage Tool-kit as developed in Western Australia, and
applies it to the Anti-Atlas in Morocco to identify sites and
regions that may be targeted either as SSSI or as aspiring
geoparks. This work aims also to contribute to enhance
geoconservation and promote Moroccan geoheritage.
c, historical, cultural, aesthetic, and religious values. In
addition, Earth systems are the foundation of all ecological
processes, are part of the heritage of our sciences (Torfason
2001
), and have been an inspiration and a framework to
other sciences, such as astronomy, chemistry, evolutionary
biology, archaeology, arts, etc.
Geology is the library of Earth and life histories. The
conservation of representatives of its features across conti-
nents and regions ensures that the witnesses to this history
are available for present and future generations. Thus geo-
conservation is an important endeavour to preserve sceni-
cally-and/or scienti
cally-important areas for a number of
reasons. From environmental management considerations, it
ensures that the Earth functions in an environmentally sus-
tainable way to maintain ecosystems for the well-being of
their inhabitants. Geoconservation ensures also that Earth
history, as a
2
Scope, Scale, and Levels of Significance
of Geoheritage Features, and Terms/
Definitions
eld textbook, is preserved in critical areas to be
examined by scholars, researchers, students, and the inter-
ested public. Geoconservation ensures that key areas are
available for geotourism considerations. Destruction of in-
In terms of scope, since geoheritage and geoconservation are
concerned with heritage and conservation of geological
matters, then all components of geology should be part of
geoheritage (Brocx and Semeniuk
2007
). This includes the
subsidiary disciplines of geology such as igneous, meta-
morphic and sedimentary geology, igneous, metamorphic
and sedimentary petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology,
mineralogy, palaeontology, geomorphology, pedology,
hydrology, and surface processes such sedimentology. This
list covers a large variety of processes and products but, in
addition, it also traverses a wide range of scales, from global
tectonics, mountain building, and landscape evolution, to
eld information deprives future researchers and students of
the opportunity to test, learn on-site, revise, or extend
information in the light of new technology or new concepts.
However, as a result of the ongoing tension between
resource exploitation and resource conservation, geocon-
servation brings with it the questions
what to preserve, and
how much to preserve? To this objective, geoconservation
practitioners worldwide have been working towards raising
—
