29 US-Mexico Exchange on Cave and Karst Science and Conservation

This session welcomes submissions in fields related with cave and karst sciences applied in Mexico, with a special interest in showcasing present or past US-Mexico binational collaborations, inter- and multidisciplinary studies and community outreach projects.

Thursday, 23 April 2026
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
LMH, Meeting Room

Geoheritage at Sierra La Primavera (Mexico): Scoping for Threats

Paper number: 29-10
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 4:25 PM – 4:45 PM

Authors

Abstract

The La Primavera caldera was the source of the largest Quaternary eruption in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest metropolitan area, is built atop a significant portion of the La Primavera pyroclastic deposits. The caldera's geological and geomorphological evolution has created a series of features with notable geoheritage value.

To date, environmental policy for the area has focused primarily on protecting its vegetation and wildlife. A protective decree was established in 1980, and in 2006, the area was included in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. However, given its complex volcanic and landscape features, there is growing interest in pursuing the UNESCO Global Geopark designation.

Achieving this goal necessitates recognizing and enhancing the value of a series of geosites within the protected area, as well as others located outside its current boundaries that lack formal protection. The first step in this mission is to identify and catalogue these geosites. Their assessment should evaluate both their scientific value—based on geologic-geomorphic uniqueness and their contribution to understanding the caldera's evolution—and their accessibility, in terms of the infrastructure available to reach, enter, and visit each site.

Numerous undeniable threats endanger these sites, including urban sprawl, expansion of agave and berry cultivation, quarrying, road construction, and land tenure disputes. Protecting these geological and geomorphological features requires not only scientific expertise from Earth Sciences but also a framework that enables public enjoyment and education. This multifaceted approach necessitates collaboration with experts from other fields.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-410895

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