La Serreta endokarst (SE Spain): a sustainable value?

Abstract

La Serreta endokarst (SE Spain), which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1998, was considered a sanctuary with cave art and one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean region for both the remains it hosts and the spectacular karstic landscape at the site. To coincide with the 40th anniversary of its discovery, the La Serreta cave-chasm was adapted for public use with the intention of showing visitors the remains, which date back to prehistoric times. The solution included attempts to minimize contact with the valuables in the cave in order to alter the existing remains as little as possible and to make good use of the magnificent interpretative conditions of such a unique place by showing the spectacular views over the Los Almadenes canyon, where the Segura River flowed, which is now a viewpoint over the void. In order to determine the sustainability of the endokarst, the Karstic Sustainability Index (KSI) was applied as a standard measure of sustainable development practices in karstic environments, which employs indicators for the three domains: use of social, economic and environmental resources. By applying this index, La Serreta endokarst was found to be progressing towards the sustainable management of karst resources.