Linking Geoheritage and Traditional Architecture for Mitigating Depopulation in Rural Areas: the Palaeozoic Villages Route (Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain)

Courel Mountains UGGp through the Ribeira Sacra-Courel Local Action Group, municipalities of Quiroga, Ribas de Sil and Folgoso do Courel, Deputy Government of Lugo Province, and the Regional Government of Galicia.The PVR forms part of the tourism programme of the Courel Mountains UGGp. Topographic and vegetation data displayed in the figures are from the Geographical National Institute of Spain. We acknowledge the assistance provided by Dr. Luis González- Menéndez (Spanish Geological Survey). We thank also E. de Boer for proofreading the article. The PVR is possible thanks to the cooperation of local people, companies, and schools, whose promising future is a truly inspiration to the UGGp.The use of stone in traditional architecture represents one of the most relevant links between geological and cultural heritage. As a topic of general interest and easily understandable to all public, this link is a guiding thread for touristic routes mitigating the depopulation trend that affects large inland rural areas, including many areas in UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp). In the northwest of Spain, the Courel Mountains UGGp created the Palaeozoic Villages Route for touristic purposes in 2018, highlighting the relevance of local stones in traditional architecture as a key feature for sustainable development. For the design and creation of this route, seven villages were selected along six criteria: (1) the representativeness of the building stone with the bedrock of the UGGp, (2) the preserved traditional architecture, (3) their link with geoheritage, (4) the scenic beauty of their surroundings, (5) the potential combination with other touristic activities, and (6) the presence of local services. The Palaeozoic Villages Route exhibits four rock types/sections/structures spanning four Palaeozoic periods, as well as different uses for walling and roofing depending on the rock feature. Since 2018, the route experienced an increased revenue of 19% in the touristic sector to the traditional villages, while visitors used up to 61% of the local services of the UGGp for one or more days. In addition, the route reinforces the awareness of depopulation and abandonment of rural villages, fostering the purchase and/or restoration of dwellings as second regular residences in tranquil and scenic environments. In the short to medium term, these actions are expected to reverse or, at least, minimise the loss of population in the UGGp.Courel Mountains UGGp through the Ribeira Sacra-Courel Local Action Groupmunicipality of Quirogamunicipality of Ribas de SilDeputy Government of Lugo ProvinceRegional Government of Galiciamunicipality of Folgoso do Coure

New Pragian (Lower Devonian) fossils from the Courel Mountains Global UNESCO Geopark (Lugo, NW Spain) and its geological implications

Se presentan los primeros fósiles devónicos reconocidos en el sinclinorio del Sil (Lugo, NO de España), encontrados en rocas calcáreas incluidas en un contexto local cartografiado como pizarras ordovícicas, lo que sugiere la necesidad de abordar una investigación estructural y estratigráfica más detallada. El yacimiento paleontológico se vincula con calizas que contienen una acumulación excepcional de dacrioconáridos aparentemente monoespecífica, un grupo fósil que se reconoce por vez primera en Galicia. La identificación de Nowakia cf. acuaria (Richter) permite atribuir al Pragiense el afloramiento estudiado, y correlacionarlo tentativamente con la parte más alta de la Formación Salas en sus afloramientos del extremo oriental del sinclinorio, ya en la provincial de León. Una interpretación alternativa sería considerar a esta caliza como un olistolito en la base del olistostroma + flysch carbonífero de San Clodio. Atendiendo al interés científico de tipo paleontológico, estratigráfico y estructural, la localidad ha sido inscrita como nuevo Lugar de Interés Geológico del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel.For the first time, Devonian fossils are recognized in limestonesof the Sil synclinorium (Lugo, NW Spain). Within this tectonic structure, the outcrop was interpreted as belonging to Ordovician shales, although observation of Devonian strata recommended a more detailed stratigraphical and tectonic investigation of the area. The palaeontological site contains an exceptional accumulation of dacryoconarids, apparently monospecific (Nowakia cf. acuaria (Ritchter)), a group never recognized before in Galicia. This species allows the attribution of these limestones to the Pragian (Lower Devonian), which are roughly correlated with the upper part of the Salas Formation of the eastern end of the synclinorium, in León province. An alternative interpretation would be to consider this limestone block as an olistolith at the base of the Carboniferous olistostrome + flysch of San Clodio. Taking into consideration the palaeontological, stratigraphical and structural interest of the outcrop, it has been inscribed as a new Geosite of the Courel Mountains Global UNESCO Geopark.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEGeoparque Montañas do CourelPlan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovaciónpu

Nuevos fósiles del Pragiense (Devónico Inferior) del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel (Lugo, NO de España) y sus implicaciones geológicas

Se presentan los primeros fósiles devónicos reconocidos en el sinclinorio del Sil (Lugo, NO de España), encontrados en rocas calcáreas incluidas en un contexto local cartografiado como pizarras ordovícicas, lo que sugiere la necesidad de abordar una investigación estructural y estratigráfica más detallada. El yacimiento paleontológico se vincula con calizas que contienen una acumulación excepcional de dacrioconáridos aparentemente monoespecífica, un grupo fósil que se reconoce por vez primera en Galicia. La identificación de Nowakia cf. acuaria (Richter) permite atribuir al Pragiense el afloramiento estudiado, y correlacionarlo tentativamente con la parte más alta de la Formación Salas en sus afloramientos del extremo oriental del sinclinorio, ya en la provincial de León. Una interpretación alternativa sería considerar a esta caliza como un olistolito en la base del olistostroma + flysch carbonífero de San Clodio. Atendiendo al interés científico de tipo paleontológico, estratigráfico y estructural, la localidad ha sido inscrita como nuevo Lugar de Interés Geológico del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel

Management of the Palaeozoic Palaeontological Heritage Associated With Metamorphic Bedrocks: Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark (Spain)

The Spanish Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark has strong educational and touristic resources despite limited preservation of Paleozoic invertebrate fossil assemblages within metamorphic rocks. The paleontological sites are managed by means of their inventory and integration in a Geographical Information System, the construction of virtual 3D fossil models, the creation of a fossil collection exhibition, the transport of large boulders with fossils to places such as tourist offices, and hiking trails to see ichnofossils. To enable geoconservation, the Palaeozoic paleontological sites are neither promoted nor frequently visited. Fossils found in the Geopark by paleontologists and fortuitously by local people or hikers are deposited and safeguarded in the Geological Museum and are available for eventual exhibition and paleontological studies

A GIS-supported Multidisciplinary Database for the Management of UNESCO Global Geoparks: the Courel Mountains Geopark (Spain)

[Abstract] The management of a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) requires a vast wealth of miscellaneous scientific knowledge that can be successfully organised using a Geographical Information System (GIS). This paper presents a pragmatic GIS database to assist in the suitable governance of the Courel Mountains UGGp (2017) in Northwest Spain. The database is structured in 66 coverages compiled from public sources and previous works or produced through traditional mapping (combining fieldwork and photointerpretation) and GIS tools. The acquired data was later homogenised and validated by a multidisciplinary team and archived in independent coverages. Forty thematic maps illustrate the broad range of cartographic information included in the GIS database. Among them, 25 basic maps provide an overview of the UGGp and 15 new maps focus on crosscutting and technical issues. All maps illustrate the huge potential of GIS to create new resources combining coverages and adapting the legend according to their purpose and audience. The database facilitates the suitable publishing of consistent outputs (e.g., brochures, books, panels, webpages, web serves), as well as the elaboration of technical data to assist the park management. The database furnishes information on the design of education actions, touristic routes, activities and Geopark facilities. The GIS database is also a supportive tool for scientific research and provides the necessary knowledge to conduct geoconservation actions based on land use, geological hazards and the occurrence of natural and cultural heritages. Altogether, the GIS database constitutes a powerful instrument for policy-making, facilitating the identification and evaluation of alternative strategy plans.This work was developed in the framework of the Scientific Program of the Courel Mountains UGGp with the cooperation of tourism agents (A.M. Arza and A. López), roofing slate quarries (Pizarras de Villarbacú, Pizarras de Quiroga) and local people (M. Reinosa, G. Díaz, O. Álvarez). We are deeply grateful to J.R. Martínez Catalán (Universidad de Salamanca), A. Pérez-Alberti and J. Guitián (both from Universidade de Santiago de Compostela), J.R. Gutiérrez-Marco (ICOG, Universidad Complutense de Madrid/CSIC), J. Vegas (IGME-CSIC), L. González-Menéndez (IGME-CSIC), J.M. García Queijeiro (Universidade de Vigo), L. Santos and A. Grandal-D’Anglade (both from Universidade da Coruña) for their assistance supplying information involved in the database. We thank also E. de Boer for proofreading the article. DB is grant holder of Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación 2021, funded by Junta de Andalucí

The Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark: An Amazing Geological History Extended Along 600 Million Years

[EN] The Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark (2019) stands out in SW of Europe because of its geoheritage, its biodiversity and its cultural heritage, all of it considered of international interest. These aspects shape the local development economic and cultural improvement and development. The geoheritage is the result of three geological cycles since the Proterozoic, involving the Cadomian-Avalonian-Pan-African orogeny, the opening of the Rheic Ocean and the Variscan orogeny, and finally the Permian-Mesozoic continental expansion and the Alpine orogeny. The geological history of Courel Mountains is one of singular rocks, huge recumbent folds, valuable metallic mineralization, and invertebrate fossils preserved within metamorphic rocks. This long history is recorded in an exceptional Variscan basement that we can ravel thanks to the exhumation during the Alpine uplifting, when the present-day Courel Mountains were built.Peer reviewe

Proyectos de arquitectura integrados al orden urbano

This is a design of a framework which is paralell to "Parque de los Reyes", working as an organizing pattern which allows for unity and diversity as well.Estudiantes diseñan trama espacial paralela al Parque de los Reyes, como patrón ordenador que permite a la vez unidad y diversidad

Proyectos de arquitectura integrados al orden urbano

This is a design of a framework which is paralell to "Parque de los Reyes", working as an organizing pattern which allows for unity and diversity as well.Estudiantes diseñan trama espacial paralela al Parque de los Reyes, como patrón ordenador que permite a la vez unidad y diversidad

Hidroboya: An autonomous buoy for real time high quality sea and continental water data retrieval

This communication presents Hidroboyatm, a buoy that is already working on the sea and whose purpose is being an autonomous source of ocean and continental water data that will be automatically sent to an “on land” server which organizes them in a database system. Server can handle information from several buoys and authorized users can see and browse data over the internet. Furthermore, buoy sensing design is very innovative, because it keeps sensors dry the most of the time and uses a hydraulic system to feed fresh ocean water to them when required. This design keeps sensors free from sea particles sedimentation, problem known as “fouling”Xunta de Galicia | Ref. 09MMA037