Analysis of the Scientific Importance and Vulnerability of the Sarea lui Buzău Geosite Within the Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark, Romania

Researches on natural heritage, summarized in studies on geosites, highlight mostly the importance they have from the point of view of geosciences, thus focusing on genetic factors (the cause of the occurrence), less on those of capitalization (their effect in relation to society). This paper presents the scientific importance of the “Sarea lui Buzău” geosite, located in the sub-Carpathian sector of the Buzău River valley, and aims to highlight the geological and geomorphological characteristics and the novelty elements imposed by it, as well as to analyze the vulnerability elements that need to be known in order to make a sustainable exploitation of the geosite. As the methods of inventorying and assessing geomorphosites have diversified, providing researchers with objective views, the understanding of the scientific value has generated new challenges, this time oriented towards answering concerns about the management of inventoried and assessed features. Thus, a new stage in the study of geosites, namely the post-assessment stage, has acquired an identity and a growing role. This brings together all the methodological, material, and decision-making elements that play an active role from the moment the assessment of the scientific and additional values of the geological-morphological site is completed. New studies may be included in this stage and new qualitative or quantitative methods may be applied, focusing on the analysis of the regional framework and the involvement of social, economic, cultural, political, and other locally specific factors. All these elements make up an “external environment” that plays a vital role, since understanding them and adopting appropriate strategies in line with the rigors imposed by it are a requirement for effective geosite management.