Geoturist Evaluation of Geosites in the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (N Poland)

Arkadiusz Krawiec,Włodzimierz Wysocki,Szymon Belzyt,Izabela Jamorska

doi:10.3390/resources11020013

Arkadiusz Krawiec, Włodzimierz Wysocki + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11020013

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Abstract

The geotourist evaluation of 32 geosites, including mineral deposits occurrence (1), petrological (12), sedimentological (2), and geomorphological (9), as well as hydrological and hydrogeological (8) sites, located in the area of Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (TFBR), has been carried out. The study aims to provide a qualitative assessment of geodiversity via the evaluation of abiotic nature objects, as well as propose modifications in geotourist valuation criteria, for the purpose of applying it to the areas located in the Central European Plains. The evaluated geosites represent both perfect examples of typical features for the physiography of the TFBR, as a young glacial landscape, e.g., erratic boulders, glaciofluvial landforms, postglacial landforms, and lakes or peatbogs, as well as values proving the uniqueness of the area on both regional and international scales, e.g., disused underground lignite mine “Montania”. High scores of geotourist attractiveness (between 36 and 44 points) have been received by 14 evaluated geosites (1 mineral deposits occurrence geosite, 4 petrological geosites, 1 sedimentological geosite, and 5 geomorphological geosites, as well as 3 hydrological and hydrogeological geosites). The remaining 18 geosites have received a medium score (between 25 and 34 points). Three areas of high concentration of geosites, which overlap with the boundaries of Tuchola, Wdecki, and Zaborski (area of the greatest diversity of highly-ranked geosites) landscape parks, were distinguished. The authors proposed geosites that require improving their accessibility to enhance the geotourist attractiveness, recognized the necessity of marking out geotourist trails in the most attractive and diversified areas, and noticed the influence of extreme weather phenomena (whirwinds) on changes in the geotourist attractiveness of some geosites. It is believed that the results of the conducted evaluation may favorably affect the importance, position, and publicity of the whole area by supplementing the well-recognized biodiversity with the geodiversity presented in the study.

Highlights

The Tuchola Forest constitutes one of the largest forest complexes in the northern part of Poland, which belongs to the plains of Central Europe.It is situated in the postglacial area, within the range of the Weichselian glaciation (LastGlaciation, Vistulian)
The area of the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (TFBR) is unique, both in terms of landscape and nature. It is characterized by exceptional biodiversity [1,2,3,4]; literature devoted to the subject lacks specific studies concerning its geodiversity, geological heritage, and geotourist potential, as well as the evaluation and valorization of abiotic objects
Geodiversity is associated with geological heritage, as a neutral term, in terms of values describing the diversity of abiotic nature that can be found on Earth, whereas geological heritage is a term burdened with values used for the identification of all the components of geodiversity selected for the purpose of geoconservation [25]

Summary

Introduction

The Tuchola Forest (in Polish: Bory Tucholskie) constitutes one of the largest forest complexes in the northern part of Poland, which belongs to the plains of Central Europe.It is situated in the postglacial area, within the range of the Weichselian glaciation (LastGlaciation, Vistulian). The Tuchola Forest (in Polish: Bory Tucholskie) constitutes one of the largest forest complexes in the northern part of Poland, which belongs to the plains of Central Europe. It is situated in the postglacial area, within the range of the Weichselian glaciation The area of the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (TFBR) is unique, both in terms of landscape and nature It is characterized by exceptional biodiversity [1,2,3,4]; literature devoted to the subject lacks specific studies concerning its geodiversity, geological heritage, and geotourist potential, as well as the evaluation and valorization of abiotic objects (geosites). Geodiversity is associated with geological heritage, as a neutral term, in terms of values describing the diversity of abiotic nature that can be found on Earth, whereas geological heritage is a term burdened with values used for the identification of all the components of geodiversity selected for the purpose of geoconservation [25]

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