Methodological proposal for the assessment of the scientific quality of geomorphosites

The method proposed has been elaborated for assessing the Scientific Quality of Geomorphosites. This method is quantitative, but a series of qualitative guide lines has been elaborated, in order to give a support for the attribution of values. Scientific quality is calculated considering a series of parameters: expert’s knowledge (educational value and research value); areal extent; rarity; degree of conservation; exposure and an added value (related to the importance that the asset has for non-geomorphological aspects that nevertheless can increase its scientific value). Afterwards, each parameter had to be weighted. This methodology could become a useful tool for optimizing decisional processes within the framework of Territorial Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment and Protection of the Natural Heritage.