Salt is the Seed of Life: a Geotourism Potential Analysis of Salt Areas in Buzău Land, Romania

Abstract

Geosites are essential elements of Geoparks, which can be used to transform geoheritage into sustainable economic, educational and social resources. One of the challenges we are generally facing today is in using these sites to their maximum potential, while ensuring their proper protection. In our experience, doing so successfully implies on one hand correctly evaluating their values, both from a quantitative point of view and from a qualitative, management perspective. On the other hand, it involves anchoring the management of the sites within the local communities, and that can be done by connecting them with as many local economic touchpoints as possible. An additional layer that ensures both the proper functioning of geosites as local resources, as well as their proper protection, is a holistic interpretation strategy that combines elements of geodiversity, biodiversity and cultural diversity, particularly the connection between people and places. Here, we illustrate this multifaceted approach using as examples five salt geosites from Buzau Land, in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. We quantitatively evaluate the scientific, educational and touristic values, as well as the degradation risks of the geosites, and we qualitatively assess the tourist attractor potential of these sites and their interpretive value. Based on these analyses, we create a valuing framework in the guise of five geotrails, each with a distinct thematic that combines as many elements of local heritage as possible, as well as connecting them with local community members and businesses (i.e. economic touchpoints).