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The inclusion of the geodiversity and geoheritage in the Ordesa-Viñamala
Action Plan 2017–2025 for the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves
(SNBR)
Manu Monge-Ganuzas1,10, Ángel Salazar2,10, Nadia Herrero3,10,
Francisco Guillén-Mondéjar4,10, Asier Hilario5,10, Javier Lorente6,10,
Josep María Mata-Perelló7,10, Juan Carlos Utiel8,10, Enrique Díaz-Martínez9,10
1 Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve’s Service, Environment, Territorial Planning and Housing Department, Basque government,
Madariaga Dorretxea, San Bartolome auzoa 34-36, 48350 Busturia, Spain; e-mail: manu-monge@euskadi.eus
2 Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), La Calera 1, 28760 Tres Cantos, Spain; e-mail: a.salazar@igme.es
3 Dirección general de Medio natural y Biodiversidad. Departamento de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca, Alimentación y
Medio Natural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Doctor Roux 80, 08017 Barcelona, Spain; e-mail: nherrero@gencat.cat
4 Grupo de Investigación de Geología, Dpto. Química Agricola, Geología y Edafología, Facultad de Química, Universidad
de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; e-mail: mondejar@um.es
5 Basque Coast Unesco Global Geopark, Ifar Kalea 4, 20820 Deba, Spain; e-mail: flysch@gipuzkoa.eus
6 Qeteo Cultural and Natural heritage, Coso 67-75, 50001 Zaragoza, Spain; e-mail: jlorente@qeteo.es
7 Departamento de Ingeniería geológica, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de minas de Madrid, Universidad Politéc-
nica de Madrid, Rios Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain; e-mail: mata@emrn.upc.edu
8 Ayuntamiento de Lerma. Audiencia 6, 09340 Burgos, Spain; e-mail:utilerma@gmail.com
9 Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain; e-mail: e.diaz@igme.es
10 Commission on Geological Heritage, Geological Society of Spain.
Keywords: biosphere reserves, geoheritage, geodiversity, Ordesa-Viñamala Action Plan
The need for a holistic approach in the design
of a Nature conservation strategy: Natural di-
versity includes biotic elements (biodiversity) and
abiotic elements (geodiversity). Biodiversity can
be defined as ‘the variability among living organ-
isms from all sources including, inter alia, ter-
restrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and
the ecological complexes of which they are part;
this includes diversity within species, between spe-
cies and of ecosystems’ (United Nations 1992[2]).
Geodiversity can be defined as ‘the natural range
(diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils),
geomorphological (land form, processes) and soil
features’ (Gray 2013). Both geodiversity and biodi-
versity are the elements determining the possibil-
ity of supporting Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) (Kozłowski 2004). It is fairly clear that there
are several links between both, as geodiversity
supports the majority of the biological processes of
the Earth (Monge-Ganuzas 2017). Consequently,
both should be considered in any Nature conser-
vation strategy. Moreover, geoheritage refers to
‘(1) in situ occurrences of geodiversity elements
with high value named geosites and (2) ex situ
geodiversity elements that maintain a high value’
(Brilha 2016). The management of geosites is also
a decisive step in any Nature conservation strategy
(Henriques et al. 2011).
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WNBR): As UNESCO (2018)[1] states, composed
of almost 670 biosphere reserves, the WNBR of
the Man and Biosphere (MaB) Programme rep-
resents a unique tool for international co-operation
through sharing knowledge, exchanging experi-
ences, building capacity and promoting best prac-
tices. Thus, it fosters the harmonious integration
of people and nature for sustainable development
through: (1) Participatory dialogue; (2) Knowledge
sharing; (3) Poverty reduction and human well-
being improvements, and (4) Respect for cultural
values and society’s ability to cope with change. In
sum, WNBR is an international tool to implement
the 17 SDG.
The main aims of biosphere reserves are: (1)
Achieving the three interconnected functions:
conservation, development and logistic support;
(2) Outpacing traditional confined conservation
zones, through appropriate zoning schemes; (3)
Focusing on a multi-stakeholder approach with
emphasis on the involvement of local communities
in management; (4) Fostering dialogue for conflict
SESSION D: Geoconservation in protected areas and nature conservation strategies
9th ProGEO Symposium, Chęciny, Poland, 2018
100
resolution; (5) Integrating cultural and natural di-
versity, especially the role of traditional knowledge
in ecosystem management; (6) Demonstrating
sound sustainable development policies based on
research; (7) Acting as sites of excellence for ed-
ucation; (8) Participating in the World Network
(Batisse 1982).
New MAB Strategy (2015–2025) and Lima
Action Plan (2016–2025): MaB has adopted a new
Strategy 2015–2025 together with an associated
Lima Action Plan 2016–2025 to guide the WNBR.
WNBR will work towards the SDG and contribute
to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. This will be done through imple-
mentation of the MaB Strategy, which consists of
vision and mission statements, a series of Strategic
Objectives and Strategic Action Areas, and an as-
sociated Lima Action Plan. The Lima Action Plan
is presented as a matrix, structured according to the
Strategic Action Areas of the MaB Strategy. It in-
cludes targeted outcomes, actions and outputs that
will contribute to the implementation of the stra-
tegic objectives. It also specifies the entities with
prime responsibility for implementation, together
with time range and performance indicators. Using
the MaB Strategy and Lima Action Plan as the key
points of reference, MaB National Committees and
MaB networks are strongly encouraged to prepare
their own strategies and action plans.
Ordesa-Viñamala Action Plan 2017–2025: Spain
has 48 biosphere reserves. On 21 September 2017,
the Spanish Committee of the MaB Programme of
UNESCO approved the Ordesa-Viñamala Action
Plan to adapt the Lima Action Plan to the Spanish
Network of Biosphere Reserves (SNBR). In a new
way and for the first time, Ordesa-Viñamala Action
Plan has adopted a holistic approach for Nature
conservat ion. This a pproach has bee n pushed by the
awareness actions carried out by the Commission
on Geological Heritage of the Geological Society
of Spain, among other organizations, the exis-
tence of International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) resolutions about geoheritage and
geodiversity, and strongly, the provisions about
geodiversity and geoheritage of the Spanish Law
42/2007, about natural heritage and biodiversity.
Consequently, this Plan has incorporated the fol-
lowing key-actions relative to geodiversity and geo-
heritage to be applied in the SNBR: (1) Promote the
Spanish biosphere reserves as places that contribute
to the implementation of the IUCN resolutions rela-
tive to geodiversity and geoheritage; (2) Implement
existing strategies at the regional level relative to
geoheritage and geodiversity; (3) Promoting part-
nerships for the conservation of the geoheritage and
for the benefit of the local population; (4) Promote
research and monitoring in relation to climate
change and its impacts on geological processes; (5)
Promote the conservation of the geoheritage and
the sustainable use of its economic value tourist,
educational, recreational, or cultural.
Conclusions: The work of awareness-raising in
relation to the importance of the geodiversity and
geoheritage in the conservation of Nature at sev-
eral 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 export of visions and experience
disseminated along the Earth, let us hope that this
pioneering initiative go spreading across the net-
work over time.
References
Batisse, M. 1982. The Biosphere Reserve: A Tool for En-
vironmental Conservation and Management. Environ-
mental Conservation, 9 (2), 101–111.
Brilha, J. 2016. Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of
Geosites and Geodiversity Sites: a Review. Geoheri-
tage, 8 (2), 119–134.
Gray, J.M. 2013. Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abio-
tic nature. Chichester méthodologie et déroulement. Mé-
mo ires de la Société géologique de France, 165, 103–109.
Henriques, M.H., Pena dos Reis, R., Brilha, J., Mota, T.S.
2011. Geoconservation as an emerging geoscience. Geo-
heritage 3 (2), 117–128.
Kozłowski, S. 2004. Geodiversity. The concept and scope of
geodiversity. Przegląd Geologiczny, 52 (8/2), 833–837.
Monge-Ganuzas, M. 2017. Key-elements of the geodiver-
sity that influence upon the biodiversity. A proposal
for the modification of the Habitats Directive (92/43/
CEE). In: L. Carcavilla, J. Duque-Macias, J. Gimenez,
A. Hilario, M. Monge-Ganuzas, J. Vegas, A. Rodri-
guez (Eds), Patrimonio geológico, gestionando la parte
abiótica del patrimonio natural. Cuadernos del Museo
Geominero, 21, 401–406.
Internet sources
[1] UNESCO, 2018. www.unesco.org
[2] United Nations, 1992. Convention On Biological Diver-
sity, pp. 1–30. Nairobi, Kenya. https://www.cbd.int/doc/
legal/cbd-en.pdf
IX ProGEO Symposium
Geoheritage and Conservation:
Modern Approaches and Applications
Towards the 2030 Agenda
Chęciny, Poland
25-28th June 2018
PROGRAMME AND ABSTRACT BOOK
Edited by
Ewa Głowniak, Agnieszka Wasiłowska, Paulina Leonowicz
This publication was co-financed by Foundation of University of Warsaw and
ProGEO – The European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage
Editors:
Ewa Głowniak, Agnieszka Wasiłowska, Paulina Leonowicz
Editorial Office:
Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw,
93 Żwirki i Wigury Street, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
Symposium Logo design:
Łucja Stachurska
Layout and typesetting:
Aleksandra Szmielew
Cover Photo:
A block scree of Cambrian quartzitic sandstones on the slope of the Łysa Góra Range – relict of frost
weathering during the Pleistocene. Photograph by Peter Pervesler
Example reference:
Dunlop, L. 2018. Natural Capital – placing a value on geoconservation within a landscape framework in
the UK. In: E. Głowniak, A. Wasiłowska, P. Leonowicz (Eds), Geoheritage and Conservation: Modern
Approaches and Applications Towards the 2030 Agenda. 9th ProGEO Symposium, Chęciny, Poland,
25-28th June 2018 Programme and Abstract Book, p. 25. Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw.
Print:
GIMPO Agencja Wydawniczo-Poligraficzna, Marii Grzegorzewskiej 8, 02-778 Warsaw, Poland
©2018 Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw
ISBN 978-83-945216-5-3
The content of abstracts are the sole responsibility of the authors