Manu Monge-Ganuzas- PhD
- Technician at Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Service. Basque government
Manu Monge-Ganuzas
- PhD
- Technician at Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Service. Basque government
About
98
Publications
17,316
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Introduction
I am geologist (PhD) and I work in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO MaB Program and advise for various UNESCO Global Geoparks. I am vice-president of ProGEO, the international NGO for geoconservation, president of the Geoheritage Commision of the Spanish Geological Society and member of the IUCN-WCPA-Geoheritage Expert Group. I center my activity in three research lines: (1) Management of Protected Areas, (2) Geo-conservation and (3) Coastal Morphodynamics and processes.
Current institution
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Service. Basque government
Current position
- Technician
Additional affiliations
January 2008 - present
June 2010 - December 2015
Position
- Tidal inlet stability on Urdaibai Estuary, Spain.
Description
- A field campaign will collect hydrodynamic data as well as sediment grain size, and information on suspended sediments with the aim of better understanding the processes that control sand transport.
January 2012 - present
Position
- Formation and Research Unit in Quaternary: Environmental Changes and Human Fingerprint (UFI11/09).
Description
- This formation and research unit is constituted by three research groups (Coastal Geology, Prehistory, and Human Evolution) and two independent researchers. All its members work using different methodologies on the Quaternary period.
Education
January 2004 - December 2008
Field of study
- coastal morphodynamics, Holocene evolution of estuaries, human actions and sedimentary response of estuaries
Publications
Publications (98)
We examine the overlap between IUCN Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and potential IUCN Key Geoheritage Areas (KGAs) in Spain, analysing the synergy between biodiversity and geoheritage conservation.
Virtual conference on Geoconservation Proceedings Book
There are numerous international designations to promote nature conservation, with a
predominant focus on biodiversity. However, geoheritage has received relatively little
recognition. Beyond UNESCO’s World Heritage and Global Geoparks programmes, as well
as the recent IUGS Geological Heritage Sites initiative, few international efforts have been
s...
The relationship between resource extraction and nature conservation is often viewed as contradictory. Traditionally, conservationists consider them compatible only when rehabilitation efforts restore biodiversity in areas degraded by extractive activities. However, in UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps), mining and quarrying can serve as natural window...
The mining industry is responsible for several socio-environmental conflicts in
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), generating environmental liabilities,
ecosystem disasters, and problems for traditional communities. Conversely,
UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) aim to manage territories towards
sustainable development. Considering these scenarios,...
La actividad minera frecuentemente deja expuestas cavidades kársticas, fósiles, minerales o estructuras geológicas que pueden ser consideradas como patrimonio geológico de relevancia nacional o internacional. Algunos ejemplos al respecto son las geodas gigantes de las minas de Naica (México) o de Pulpí (España) y las trazas fósiles de dinosaurios q...
During the last fifty years, numerous international designations have been established with a focus on biodiversity and/or natural heritage conservation, but only a small number are dedicated to geoconservation. This discrepancy underscores the relatively low level of public awareness regarding the importance of geodiversity and geoheritage. Apart...
We will present the key milestones to be considered to design a participatory and consensual strategy for geo-conservation in a certain area. We will take as a model the applied case of the territory of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in Spain. The Basque Country starts his strategical design for geo-conservation by arranging a parti...
En España, diversos enfoques legislativos abordan la geoconservación. En Aragón, el Decreto 274/2015, del 29 de septiembre, establece el régimen de protección e inventario de LIG. El Decreto 6/1990, del 23 de enero, regula las actividades paleontológicas, mientras que el Decreto 202/2014, del 2 de diciembre, integra el patrimonio geológico en la or...
The Geological Heritage Commission of the Spanish Geological Society (CPG-SGE), established in 1993, aims to promote research, conservation, management, and dissemination of geological heritage and geodiversity in Spain. In order to better understand the profile of professionals in geo-conservation, the CPG-SGE conducted two surveys in 2019 and 202...
Rapid environmental change, natural resource overconsumption and increasing concerns about ecological sustainability have led to the development of ‘Essential Variables' (EVs). EVs are harmonized data products to inform policy and to enable effective management of natural resources by monitoring global changes. Recent years have seen the instigatio...
This work describes the achievements made towards geoconservation within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from the 1990s onwards. The key milestones in the recognition of geoconservation within the IUCN are presented. Initially, the IUCN's geoconservation efforts were focused on refining the criteria for World Heritage (WH)...
The ProGEO SW Europe Regional Working Group was founded in 2010, gathering the ProGEO members from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The main aim of the regional group is the collaboration between the four countries, through the organization of scientific meetings and courses, the comparison and discussion of legislation regarding geoheritage prot...
This work describes the achievements made towards geoconservation within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from the 1990s onwards. The key milestones in the recognition of geoconservation within IUCN are presented. Initially, IUCN's geoconservation efforts were focused on refining the criteria for World Heritage (WH) designa...
Spain establishes the basic regulations for geoconservation through the Law 42/2007 of 13 December on natural heritage, the Law 16/1985, of 25 June on culture and the Royal Legislative Decree 2/2008, of 20 June on land use planning.
However, based on these laws, each Spanish region has developed its own legislation for geoconservation, which presen...
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...
A synthesis of the current state of geoconservation in Spain and an identification of the key associations and entities that develop is presented. We also provide an historical review with references for the main publications on the subject to date. In addition, new and updated information on the current status of geoconservation in the country is...
Red Ereño is a red-stained ornamental and construction limestone with characteristic white fossil shells. Although exploited
since Roman times, marketed worldwide and that the rock itself and its outcrop areas have been included in geological heritage
inventories, the origin of its characteristic reddish colour remained unresolved. The aim of this...
A key-goal for governance is the translation of knowledge into planning. We recruited 125 representatives from society, technical-political and the scientific community in a participation process focused on the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. We analysed their testimonials by using qualitative and quantitative methods, including Computer Assisted Quali...
The Holocene environmental evolution in coastal areas, including deltas and estuaries, is vital to understanding coastal dynamics and how they may change in the future. Here, we studied the Holocene environmental evolution of the Oka estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, northern Spain) from sedimentary cores that were 11–49 m long. We applied a mul...
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...
La actividad minera frecuentemente deja expuestas cavidades kársticas, fósiles, minerales o estructuras geológicas que pueden ser consideradas como patrimonio geológico de relevancia nacional o internacional. Algunos ejemplos al respecto son las geodas gigantes de las minas de Naica (México) o de Pulpí (España) y las trazas fósiles de dinosaurios q...
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...
