The Iberian Massif Landscape and Fluvial Network in Portugal: a geoheritage inventory based on the scientific value

Abstract

Geoconservation-the conservation of valued geodiversity features through their assessment and management-has strongly increased during the last two decades emerging as a new research area in geosciences (e.g.

Landform values for rural sustainability: Recognition and assessment in a Spanish–Portuguese border region case study

“…All these landforms are usually identified with respect to their dimensional assortment. The inventory of the geomorphological sites in the study area counted the characteristic landforms in the North of Portugal and Galicia (Pereira et al, 2015;VidalRomaní et al, 2014) The granitic landforms often inspire much awe in onlookers and they present undeniable scenic and aesthetic values. They receive singular names related to viewers' singular experiences, legends or myths from the local culture.…”

“…In the neighbouring protected Mountains of Portugal, similar landforms have been assessed as significant components of the landscape (e.g. Pereira et al, 2015). In the Mountains of the Czech Republic, the aforementioned study cases (Section 4: Methodology), as well as recent contributions (Rypl et al, 2016) state the significance of these landforms as singular features which need to be protected.…”

The Geomorphological Landscape of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

“…The eastern part of the region belongs to the "plateaus and mountains of northern Portugal" (Pereira et al 2014(Pereira et al , 2015, one of the three units that compose the major morphotectonic unit known as the Iberian Massif. The latter is the largest morphotectonic unit of Iberia and consists of a basement of Proterozoic and Palaeozoic metamorphic and plutonic rocks (dominated by granites), affected by Variscan and Alpine tectonic deformation (Arthaud and Matte 1975;Ribeiro et al 1990;De Vicente et al 2011;Pereira et al 2015). Pereira et al (2015) described the most significant geomorphological elements of the Iberian Massif as (Fig.…”

“…Quartzite crests rise around 250-300 m above the extensive plateaus of the Iberian Meseta and are the best morphological expression of an Appalachian-type relief. The crests' tops represent an older planation surface, probably of early Mesozoic age known as the "Initial Surface" (Martín-Serrano 1988, 2004Pereira 2010;Pereira et al 2015). • Granite landforms, prevailing in northern and central Portugal, typical of temperate climate zones.…”

Comparing Methods of Evaluation of Geosites: The Fossiliferous Outcrops of Santa Maria Island (Azores, NE Atlantic) as a Case Study for Sustainable Island Tourism

“…During the last few decades, several attempts have been made to evaluate the quality of geoheritage in various contexts, and in the literature numerous methods are described for the quantitative assessment of geosites, e.g., [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Brilha [2] recently developed a new framework for the inventory and quantitative assessment of geosites and palaeogeographical geosites, aiming for the implementation of geoconservation procedures in geoparks, worldwide (see also [16][17][18]).…”