Geotouristic Route Proposal for Touristic Development in a Mining Area—Case Study

Paúl Carrión-Mero,Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar,Magner Turner-Carrión,Gricelda Herrera-Franco,Gianella Bravo-Murillo,Nataly Paz-Salas,Edgar Berrezueta

doi:10.3390/resources11030025

Abstract

In recent decades, geotourism has been presented as an alternative for the sustainable socioeconomic development of the community. In addition, it shows significant growth. Portovelo canton, located in the south of Ecuador, is characterised by a significant geological importance complemented by the mining culture and history interest, turning into the first mining centre. Mining is the main economic activity in the area. However, the development of illegal mining without technical considerations affects the canton and its surroundings. Faced with this problem, the need arises for alternatives to improve the inhabitants’ quality of life and protect their geological heritage. This work aims to propose a geotouristic route (GR) in the course of the Amarillo River through the characterisation and quantitative assessment of 10 interest sites (four geosites and six touristic sites), which enhance the geotourism development of the canton, including geoconservation strategies. The methodological process includes (i) characterisation of sites and GR proposal, (ii) sites and GR assessment using the Geotouristic Route Assessment Matrix method (GtRAM, acronym in Spanish) and Brilha method for geosites, and (iii) proposal of geotourism development and geoconservation strategies in a sustainability framework through the analysis of strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOT). The results obtained from the proposed GR reflect that 60% of the proposed sites have a tourist interest classified as high, of which the Museo Mineralógico Magner Turner was the best-rated geoheritage element. Similarly, the high scientific, educational, and tourist values of the proposed geoheritage sites are highlighted. Strategies have been established to enhance the GR value: (i) Promoting geotourism through different activities and (ii) proposals for geoconservation and conditioning of geoheritage sites and tourist interest sites considering the geological and environmental impact. The methodology used in the study made it possible to establish geo-guidelines focused on local development, which are coupled with the knowledge of two main groups: Geo-experts and the community.

Highlights

When the elements that constitute geodiversity present a scientific interest, they are recognized as geological heritage or geoheritage [7,8], which includes geosites and geoheritage elements [1]
The Immovable geological heritage (IGH) includes geodiversity elements with a scientific value that cannot be removed from the surrounding environment, for which protection must be in situ, while the movable geological heritage (MGH) includes geodiversity elements with a scientific value that must be protected ex situ within a museum
Based on the information obtained by previous works and the field visits carried out, it has been considered appropriate to survey 10 potential sites for the proposal of a geotouristic route (GR) in the Portovelo canton (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Geodiversity is relatively new, it was creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). According to Gray [4], geodiversity can be defined as “the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, processes), and soil features”. Geodiversity can be defined as the geological variety around elements, such as geological structures (faults, stratifications), minerals, rocks, fossils or soils [5,6]. When the elements that constitute geodiversity present a scientific interest, they are recognized as geological heritage or geoheritage [7,8], which includes geosites (in situ) and geoheritage elements (ex situ) [1]. The IGH includes geodiversity elements with a scientific value that cannot be removed from the surrounding environment, for which protection must be in situ, while the MGH includes geodiversity elements with a scientific value that must be protected ex situ within a museum. The inclusion of the MGH in a museum collection often represents the only opportunity to preserve these invaluable inanimate natural monuments [11,12]

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