Hydrological Patrimony in the mountainous areas of Spain: geodiversity inventory and cataloguing of the Sierras De Béjar and Del Barco (in the Sierra de Gredos of the Central System)

This study focused on the Béjar and Barco tectonic massifs (in the Sierra de Gredos, Spain), in which a large part of the region has been declared a Protected Natural Space. An inventory and assessment of the Hydrological Patrimony was conducted with the objective of assisting planners in the sustainable management of the most representative and/or fragile assets. To perform this inventory, a methodology was utilized in which three types of places of interest were identified: Areas, Sites and/Points of Hydrological Interest (A/S/PG_HI), each specifying the value of each location as a scientific, educational and/or tourist resource, thus permitting different interest groups to determine how best to use the location. Three key planning elements for these Natural Areas are presented: an inventory of 35 sites (A/S/PG_HI), accompanied by fact sheets for each; a Natural Heritage map, intended to raise awareness of the geodiversity of the area; and plans for nine educational tours through selected points of interest, designed to educate visitors about the most representative assets in the region, thus promoting their conservation.