The role of geosciences and landscape in the management of Natural Parks of Guadalajara (Central Spain): in search of suitable applications

Abstract

University professors, researchers and professionals from different governmental bodies in Madrid and Guadalajara have formed a research group to investigate how to use geo-environmental information in the management of Spanish Natural Parks. Funding has been obtained from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. The pilot area for the project is the Natural Parks of the province of Guadalajara in the Castilla -La Mancha Autonomous Region.This article describes two proposals to analyse the physical environment and the landscape of the natural parks of Guadalajara: analytical-parametric inventory, and synthetic-physiographic inventory. The objective is to provide useful information on how to manage these areas. Additionally, the article includes results of the study of active karstic processes in two of these natural parks, Río Dulce and Alto Tajo.