Non-English title

Across the northwestern Tabular Middle Atlas of Morocco there are many examples of geomorphosites providing key evidence of a particular moment or period in Earth history. Such Earth heritage sites are important for educating the general public in environmental matters. They also serve as tools for demonstrating sustainable development and for illustrating methods of site conservation, as well as remembering that geomorphosites form an integral part of the natural world. A detailed geomorphological study has been carried out in the area of the northwestern Tabular Middle Atlas of Morocco using a combination of high resolution satellite data and direct field observations integrated by geological maps and scientific literature. In order to describe and evaluate the geomorphological heritage of this area, 24 geomorphosites have been selected comprising springs, karst landforms (polje, dolines, caves, sinkholes, stone forests, cryptokarstic dolines), carbonate depositional landforms (travertines and waterfalls), and volcanic landforms (volcanoes, caldeira, pyroclastic cones, lava tube). The results of this research have been summarised in a thematic map, representing the geomorphosites related to various landscape units. The significance of certain sites for aesthetic or tourism reasons is obvious. There are numerous geomorphosites, which could contribute to effective exploitation of geotourism, often in conjunction with ecotourism. The strategy employed in such sites involves close consultation with all communities in the vicinity of each geomorphosite and is not only aimed at tourism and education, but also at sustainable improvement of infrastructures of the people of this area. Geological heritage sites, properly managed, can generate employment and new economic activities, especially in regions in need of new or additional sources of income.