THE SPANISH INVENTORY OF GEOLOGICAL SITES OF INTEREST (IELIG)

The current Spanish Inventory of Geological Sites of Interest (IELIG, in its Spanish acronym) is largely based on the pioneering national inventory of ‘points of geological interest’ compiled by the Geological Survey of Spain (IGME) between 1978 and 1989. The methodology is based on a detailed review of both national and international experiences in geological heritage inventories and their conceptual base. We describe the methodology and workflow developed to identify the geological sites of interest, including the quantitative assessment of their value from the scientific or intrinsic point of view, and from the educational and tourist-recreational point of view. The starting point is the participation of a large panel of experts with proven experience in different fields of Earth sciences and in the specific geological domain being inventoried. We address other aspects to be considered when inventorying and managing geosites, such as their precise delineation, their correct naming and their detailed description. The inventory includes the assessment of the risk of degradation of the sites based on their fragility, vulnerability and susceptibility to degradation, as well as the quantitative estimation of these parameters. The experience gained after years applying this methodology allows us to highlight major achievements, help others learn from our mistakes, and suggest recommendations to prioritize protection measures and management plans based on the different risks of degradation.

The program ‘Save a Rock’ was implemented within the IELIG beginning in 2017 and has become a national initiative for public participation in geoheritage conservation. It involves and mobilizes citizens by making them aware of their decisive role in site management. The ‘Save a Rock’ program has created a network of volunteers (exceeding 3500) willing to report on the conservation status of the geosites they want to preserve, at least once a year or when they detect any threat or alteration. We provide statistical data about the participation in the program after its first years of operation at national level, including the improvements that have been made and the weaknesses detected.