Contribution to the Inventory of Morocco's Geological Heritage: The Coastal Geosites of Agadir Ida-Outanane (Western High Atlas, Morocco)
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1
Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, B.P. 133, 14000 Kenitra, Morocco
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Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Patrimony Laboratory (GeoBio), Geophysics and Natural Heritage (GEOPAC), Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, B.P. 8007, Rabat, Morocco.
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2GBEI Laboratory, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant, Ibn Zohr University, Taroudant, 83000, Morocco
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Laboratory for Research in Science and Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco.
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Zakaria Boukfaoui
Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, B.P. 133, 14000 Kenitra, Morocco
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ABSTRACT
This study examines ten geosites distributed along the coastline of the Agadir Ida Outanane area, southwestern Morocco.
A significant part of the study area is located within the Cap Ghir-Taghazout Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE). The selected sites display exceptional geological diversity in terms of stratigraphy, sedimentology, palaeontology, hydrogeology and geomorphology. Some also have significant cultural and ecological value. The geosites were evaluated using a methodology that allows for identification, characterisation and appropriate quantitative assessment. This assessment covers scientific value (SV), potential for educational use (PUE), potential for tourist use (PUT) and risk of degradation (RD). This is done by assigning scores from 1 to 4. The results indicate high scientific value (average SV = 3.67), with five geosites scoring ≥ 3.5, including the caves of Cap Ghir (3.95) and the cliffs of Taghazout (3.80). The Educational Use Potential (PUE) and the Touristic Use Potential (PUT) show respectively very high and high values, with respective averages around 3.56 and 3.50.
However, the risk of degradation was moderate (average risk of degradation = 2.61), particularly for accessible sites such as the Anza dinosaur footprints (risk of degradation = 2.90) and the Tiguert travertines (risk of degradation = 2.55). These results highlight the need for sustainable management to reconcile conservation and the development of geotourism. The proposed geological itinerary joins these geosites, promoting local economic growth while preserving Morocco's geological heritage.
This work provides the first integrated quantitative assessment of coastal geosites in the Agadir Ida Outanane region, offering a replicable model for promoting geological heritage in Morocco and similar coastal contexts.