Patrimonio geológico y usos tradicionales de la geodiversidad en la comarca de Huéscar (Granada)

Abstract

Comarca de Huéscar has a varied geological heritage that has been poorly researched, so there is a necessity to carry out detailed studies of new Places with Geological Interest and of new Places with Interest for their Knowledge and Traditional Uses of the Geodiversity. Those studies will put in value both geological heritage and knowledge and traditional uses of the geodiversity in this district. The improvement of management and conservation measures of these places will be achieved by cataloguing them. Besides, it will also contribute to the economic development and employment boosting in this area. The main objectives of this Doctoral Thesis are the following ones: " To put in value new Places with Geological Interest and new Places with Interest for their Knowledge and Traditional Uses of the Geodiversity, proposing those that could be included in the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico and those that could be considered GEOSITES. " To elaborate the first inventory guide for Places with Interest for their Knowledge and Traditional Uses of the Geodiversity, which could be used both nationally and internationally. " To identify new Places with Geological Interest with edaphological interest and to make improvement proposals for their valuation and protection. " To give new data and new information about geological heritage and traditional uses to be applied in management plans and to be taken into account in conservational measures in natural places and geoparks, " To propose some Places with Geological Interest to be declared Natural Monuments of Andalucia. " To contribute in the economic and social development of Comarca de Huéscar. The methodology proposed by the Área de Investigación en Patrimonio Geológico-Minero del Instituto Geológico y Minero de España has been followed in the work described in this Doctoral Thesis. This is the working method of the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico. A first approach to define and classify places and elements is proposed as well as a new inventory sheet for traditional uses of geodiversity. As a result of the work carried out, 15 new Places with Geological Interest and 10 new Places with Interest for their Knowledge and Traditional Uses of the Geodiversity in the Comarca de Huescar have been identified and described, and the description of another three Places with Geological Interest has been improved. Sismitas gigantes de Galera are proposed as a GEOSITE whereas other 17 places are proposed to be included in the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico. Four places are proposed as Natural Monuments of Andalucía. Nine places with geological interest, whose main or secondary interest is the edaphological one, are described in this work. Besides, a new data collection sheet for soils is proposed, not existing previously in the methodology of the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico. For all these reasons, the main conclusions of this Doctoral Thesis are: " New results and new information about geological heritage in Comarca de Huescar are given. " Places with Geological Interest and of Places with Interest for their Knowledge and Traditional Uses of the Geodiversity de la Comarca de Huéscar described in this Doctoral Thesis make, altogether with those identified by IGME and Junta de Andalucia, the most updated inventory of geological heritage for this region. " The cultural promotion of the geological heritage of Comarca de Huescar, that has been carried out during the time of the realisation of this Thesis, has contributed to make the inhabitants more conscious about the importance of geological heritage. " Some old people and their knowledge of the traditional uses of the geodiversity of the district of Huescar have been video and writing recorded. " The amplitude of results exposed in this Thesis, paired with the working methods included, invite to continue doing similar studies in other areas with national or international character. " It has been proved that, in the Comarca de Huescar, a great geological diversity can be found, being very interesting for future research projects. " Finally, inhabitants of this district can make a sustainable exploitation of the geological heritage, which might lead to an important economic development for this area.