Manu Monge-Ganuzas

Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Service. Basque government · Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment Department.

Adaptation in and around estuaries, to ensure the future resilience of both the natural environment and the communities that are located alongside is an increasingly pressing need. As part of an adaptation planning program for the Basque estuaries (northern Spain, south-eastern Bay of Biscay), a modelling system to simulate the morphological respon...

Mining activity frequently exposes karst cavities, fossils, minerals, or geological structures that can be considered as geoheritage of national or international relevance. Some examples are the giant geodes in the mines of Naica (Mexico) or Pulpí (Spain) and the dinosaur fossil traces that appeared in the Cretaceous limestone quarry of Sucre (Boli...

The Basque Country is an autonomous region located in the northeast of Spain and presents a high geodiversity index and international significant geoheritage. In this territory, there are two UNESCO designations: Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and Basque Coast Global Geopark. Both bodies follow the path to sustainability taking into account nature mana...

This panel-communication aims to help all of those involved in any aspect of protected areas establishment or management and the stewardship of conserved areas to understand and address the conservation, management and/or use of geoheritage and geodiversity. Firstly, we describe the purpose of geoconservation, provide definitions of geoheritage, ge...

El cambio climático y el ascenso del nivel del mar (ANM) son una amenaza creciente e inevitable para los estuarios del planeta, por lo que aumentar su resiliencia es un requisito ineludible. En este contexto, se ha iniciado un programa de investigación para determinar las medidas de adaptación a tomar en los estuarios del País Vasco, incluyendo el...

Procedeeding Book of the ProGEO SW Europe Regional Working Group. Virtual Conference on Geoconservation. March 30-31, 2022

The residues present in the seas and on the coast seriously and directly affect nature, our economy, tourism and even our own health. Zero Plastilro Urdaibai citizen action involved more than 3,000 volunteers to carry out a large-scale cleaning of the Urdaibai BR and generate a state of individual and collective reflection on the daily use we make...

The Basque Country is an autonomous region located in the northeast of Spain and presents a high geodiversity index and international significant geoheritage. In this territory, there are two UNESCO designations: Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and Basque Coast Global Geopark. Both bodies follow the path to sustainability taking into account nature mana...

The General Assembly of IUCN has approved Resolution WCC-2020-Res-074 relative to “Geoheritage and Protected Areas”. This Resolution supports the development of a detailed study envisaging the establishment of a future IUCN initiative on Key Geoheritage Areas (KGAs), as a complement to the existing Key Biodiversity Areas Programme, in order to prot...

The Spanish Geological Society through its Geoheritage Commission actively participated in the draft of Law 21/2015, of July 20, which modifies Law 43/2003, of November 21, of Forestry. The results were bittersweet because, from the 28 amendments that were submitted, only one of them was partially accepted: the 13th article now says that Geosites c...

Ornamental and construction stones are an intrinsic part of certain natural and cultural heritage (Brocx and Semeniuk, 2019). Studies to characterise their features and sources or their conservation are essential in order to undertake actions for their conservation and/or the restoration of emblematic buildings (Pereira y Marker, 2015). Moreover, t...

The Oka estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, SE Bay of Biscay) is a semi-di-urnal and mesotidal drowned fluvial valley composed of shallow intertidal sandy and muddy flats and marshes. Waves are a dominant influence on the enclosing spit and on the ebb tidal delta known as the Mundaka sand bar, a worldwide recognized surfing spot. Furthermore, sedi...

RESUMEN El Plan de Acción Ordesa-Viñamala 2017-2025 para las Reservas de la Biosfera Españolas ha adoptado una aproximación holística hacia la conservación de la naturaleza integrando acciones de conservación, restauración, difusión y gestión de la biodiversidad, de la geodiversidad y del patrimonio geológico. Entre ellas destacan en lo relativo a...

The European Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage (ProGEO), a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), together with the PANORAMA consortium, organized on Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm CET, a live webinar on "Geodiversity and geoconservation: a new theme of PANORAMA solutions".

Growing from the Zero Plastic campaign in Lanzarote, begun in 2009, the "Zero Plastic" working group was launched in May 2018 at the annual meeting for the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR) in Menorca. The Zero Plastic working group is an alliance between the WNICBR and the Marine Sciences For Society research network;...

The Mediterranean environment stressors and their effect on the trophic state require the assessment of interconnection between land-based drivers, the real and potential pressures and impacts. To achieve this, it is necessary to consider as well, several social and economic factors that may influence decision-making around land-sea planning and th...

Currently (January 2018), the only three members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) promoting issues related to the conservation, use and management of geodiversity and geological heritage are the Geological Society of Spain (SGE, since 2008), the European Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage (ProGEO...

One of the primary objectives of the MAB Strategy 2015-2025 is the production of verifiable knowledge based on scientific evidence applicable to the sustainable management of biosphere reserves. Achieving this objective means building stable channels of communication between the scientific community and managers at all levels. Here, we attempt to p...

The conservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage (including geological heritage), the development of applied scientific programmes and the comprehensive management of natural resources are fundamental objectives of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, to which the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reser...

Miembros de la Sociedad Española para la Defensa del Patrimonio Geológico y Minero de España. http://www.sedpgym.es Resumen: En enero 2018, las dos únicas sociedades científicas que promueven los temas relacionados con la conservación, uso y gestión de la geodiversidad y el patrimonio geológico en el Comité Español de la UICN (CeUICN) son la Socied...

Subaerial beach width plays a vital role when it comes to protecting coastal settlements and communities from storms. In many beaches the accretionary sequence is often characterized by the onshore migration of one or several intertidal bars that can eventually weld to the shore and contribute to the increase of the dry (subaerial) beach surface. A...

Rapid environmental change is driving the need for complex and comprehensive scientific information that supports policies aimed at managing natural resources through international treaties, platforms, and networks. Although the current essential variables frameworks account for the biosphere, atmosphere, and some aspects of the hydrosphere, they l...

The Quaternary geosites of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country: need of knowledge for their management): The inventory of geosites of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country includes 47 Quaternary geosites that have been assigned to high heritage values. These geosites are associated with coastal, karstic, hydrogeological, fluvial...

Holocene environmental evolution of the Oka Estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, southeastern Bay of Biscay): response to postglacial sea-level rise): Fluvial paleovalleys provide critical data to study the temporal superposition of depositional environments during the Holocene postglacial sea-level rise. We study eight boreholes that reached bedro...

methodological approach to the evaluation and follow-up of strategies on geodiversity and geological heritage is presented on the basis of the pilot example of the Strategy of Geodiversity of the Basque Country 2020 approved by the Basque Government in 2014. Following the work carried out during the period 2015-2018, as it is reflected in its manag...

Currently (January 2018), the only three members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) promoting issues related to the conservation, use and management of geodiversity and geological heritage are the Geological Society of Spain (SGE, since 2008), the European Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage (ProGEO...

The Basque estuaries represent drowned river valleys that were firstly flooded by the sea due to a climate-change-induced sea-level rise 8500 yr ago, and subsequently, infilled with a general shallowing sequence. Basque estuaries developed from an initial fluvial environment followed by a firstly marine and secondly brackish depositional system.

The first data available on the interaction between human beings and the Basque estuaries are situated in the Prehistory, after the last glacial maximum.

Trabajo divulgativo que explora y expone el patrimonio geológico en las Reservas de la Biosfera de España utilizando esquemas explicativos y textos sencillos.

During the last 8 years since the update that we provided at ProGEO’s 6th Inter national Symposium in 2010, there have been significant advances towards geoconservation in Spain. We herein summarize the main achievements, initiatives underway, and the needs and perspectives for the future, again hoping to contribute towards the common goals of ProG...

The work of awareness-raising in relation to the importance of the geodiversity and geoheritage in the conservation of Nature at several levels has given its fruit at least in Spain. This is the case of the introduction of these issues in the Ordesa-Viñamala Action Plan 2017–2025 as key-actions. Taking into account that the WNBR are laboratories of...

92/43/EEC Directive is established for the conservation, protection or improvement of the environment of the European Union. It focuses on certain habitats and species in order to ensure their favorable conservation status. Although from its reading it seems that it will possible to interpret that geodiversity may be subject to conservation measure...

Laida beach, located at the Oka estuary mouth (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve) in the southeastern region of the Bay of Biscay, suffered the impact of a severe succession of storms during the first months of 2014. As a result of the erosion induced by these events, the beach lost its supratidal zone almost completely. The absence of a supratidal beach...

Durante la última década, los tres miembros geoconservacionistas de la UICN (SGE, ProGEO y SEDPGyM) han estado contribuyendo a la inclusión y consideración apropiada del patrimonio geológico y la geodiversidad en las políticas de la UICN. Resumimos aquí el reciente proceso de elaborar, modificar, defen- der y votar en el Congreso Mundial de la Natu...

Biodiversity hotspots and geosites are indivisible parts of natural heritage. Therefore, an adequate spatial delimitation and understanding of both and their linkages are necessary in order to be able to establish conservation policies. Normally, biodiversity hotspots are a typical target for those policies but, generally, geosites are not taken in...

The approval of the “Geodiversity Strategy of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAPV) 2020” in 2014 meant the arrange of the management of its geoheritage and geodiversity in a planned way, through the forecast for the execution of a total of 45 actions included in 4 main objectives. During the last two years, some of the planned acti...

During the last decade, the three geoconservationist members of IUCN (SGE, ProGEO and SEDPGyM) have been contributing towards the inclusion and appropriate consideration of geoheritage and geodiversity in IUCN policies. We herein synthesize the recent process of elaborating, modifying, defending and voting at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congre...

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves is endorsed by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MaB) Programme. This network aims to reconcile the conservation of nature with sustainable socio-economic development, based on research, training, interpretation and education for the sustainability of the resident population. The 48 spaces that make up the Spanish...

El número 21 de la Serie Cuadernos del Museo Geominero que lleva por título “Patrimonio geológico, gestionando la parte abiótica del patrimonio natural”, y que recoge los trabajos presentados a las sesiones científicas de la XII Reunión Nacional de la Comisión de Patrimonio Geológico, de la Sociedad Geológica de España (SGE), celebrada en la Reserv...

Nature Based adaptation measures to sea-level rise and an integrated coastal zone management approach for reclaimed estuaries: the case study of Oka estuary (Urdaibai biosphere reserve, Southeastern Bay of Biscay) MONGE-GANUZAS M. Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve’s Service. Directorate of Natural Environment & Environmental Planning. Environment & Territ...

Número 18 de la serie cuadernos del museo Geomineroque recoge los trabajos presentados en la IX Sisión científica de la CPG-SGE celebrada en Zumaia del 9 al 13 de Julio de 2015.

The majority of the eastern Cantabrian estuaries occur on a coast with waves approaching dominantly from a NW direction. However, at their mouths sand-spit accumulations occur on their eastern margin. These sedimentary features have extended westwards, although the main littoral transport path on this coast is dominantly eastwards. The origin, morp...

Since its acceptance as a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, the Geological Society of Spain (SGE) has worked hardly to incorporate geoconservation in IUCN policies. In this regard, in 2008, the SGE submitted a motion at the General Assembly in Barcelona in order to promote different activities focused...

Basque Government started the elaboration of the Geodiversity Strategy for the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in 2011. It was based on previous experience developed in Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve that supposed the passing of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Geodiversity Management Strategy 2011-2018. That work was finished in 2012 and sinc...

Man & Biosphere Program of UNESCO whereas World Net of Biosphere Reserve is included, presents the fundamental aims for conservation and sustainable use of the natural heritage (geological heritage included) and the cultural heritage (included geological heritage of cultural value), the development of applied scientific programs and the integrated...

Resumen: Con el objetivo de reconstruir el proceso de transformación ambiental del estuario del Oka (Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai) en respuesta a las variaciones del nivel marino en la costa vasca durante los últimos 8.500 años, se han perforado en diferentes zonas estuarinas 8 sondeos por rotación hasta alcanzar el sustrato pre-cuaternario....

The aim of the study was to analyze a participation process for the implementation of a sustainable land management plan in the Urdaibai biosphere reserve in northern Spain. We have analyzed the forecasted changes that would result from the implementation of the participatory process, including a quantitative evaluation of actions needed to achieve...

This communication tries to show the given steps taken towards the achievement of the educational objectives derived from the Geodiversity Strategy of Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. The Handbook of Geosites of Urdaibai has been published based on previous Geosite inventory. It aims to promote public awareness through information and education stressin...

In the spring of 2003, 240,000 m3 of sand were dredged from the main channel of the lower Oka estuary (Urdaibai Reserve of the Biosphere) and dumped on the southern area of Laida beach located at the estuary mouth. After few months, strong erosion of the deposited sediments occured as a consequence of the northwards migration of the final meander o...