La valoración del patrimonio geomorfológico en espacios naturales protegidossu aplicación al parque nacional de los Picos de Europa

Abstract

The area of study, located in the Cantabrian Range in Northern Spain, was the first area of Spain to be declared a National Park. The landscape is characterised by glacial, fluvial and karstic landforms, a high mountain environment with an oceanic climate and a high degree of human use and natural changes induced by mining and tourism. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology for the assessment of geomorphosites applied to Natural Protected Areas and local scale, focussing on providing an inventory and natural and cultural assessment of geomorphosites for consideration in the management. This methodology is based on the geomorphologic map to know the shapes, landform systems and evolution and the inventory and classification of all geomorphic sites. These data were collected from a detailed geomorphologic map, a descriptive card and an assessment card for each selected site. The card included the most important features defining the unit: morphostructures, bedrock, landforms, dynamic, singular elements, management, past human and cultural features, natural fragility, today's land uses and cultural values and unit vulnerability. The assessment card included points assessment of three categories: scientific, cultural and use. In this study twenty-two geomorphosites of different sizes and categories were selected, classified and assessed. The geomorphosites are classified and compared and potential uses are proposed.