Karstic geomorphosites : managing subterranean natural-cultural heritage sites

International audienceKarstic geomorphosites are of great scientific interest because of the immense variety of their geomorphological structures and because they are natural archives that can be used to reconstruct past environmental and climatic conditions. They are also prized as natural-cultural landscapes, and they are one of only a few morphotypes to give access to the subterranean world. As a result, managing and valorising karst landscapes is a complex and delicate task. Recent years have seen increased interest in karsts, due to the growth of geotourism and environmental education, and this has led to the diversification of karst presentation methods, whether in situ, in reproductions of the site, or in external promotional or educational exhibitions or events. In return, this has strengthened the realisation that these geomorphosites must be protected and several karsts are now listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites