An Inventory of Geoheritage Sites in the Draa Valley (Morocco): a Contribution to Promotion of Geotourism and Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study describes the geoheritage sites in the Draa valley between Ouarzazate and M’Hamid in south-eastern Morocco. This area is remarkable for its diverse landscapes and very interesting geological, geomorphological, and archeological sites that could be used to explain the history of the earth as well as regional climate changes both to tourists and to the general public. The educational aspects of these sites are highlighted; in order to emphasize their magnificence and their scientific interest, the area includes many sites with the Ordovician Fezouata Biota. Information needs to be provided in various media, as geological and archeological booklets, guidebooks or interpretive panels at the geosites. The approach presented below can serve as a model for sustainable development of geotourism, for preservation of geological and archeological heritage, and also as a contribution toward establishing a geopark in the south-eastern provinces of Morocco.