Evaluating Palaeontological Heritage: A Comparative Methodological Study of the Mio-Pliocene Arroyo Valleforero Site (Spain)

Palaeontological sites are integral components of geodiversity, but their finite nature and irreversible information loss through erosion and collecting raise the question of whether general geoheritage assessment methodologies evaluate them adequately. We address this question at Arroyo Valleforero (Lepe, Huelva, Spain), a Mio-Pliocene locality with exceptional body and trace fossil assemblages, which, though nationally inventoried, lacks heritage protection. Alongside a site-specific threat analysis, we applied four methodologies: the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest (IELIG), Fossils and Heritage of Alicante (FOPALI), Brilha’s geosite assessment framework and INDICAGEOPAR, an indicator-based system developed for Spanish National Parks. All four methodologies assigned high scientific value (78.8–85.0% of maximum), whereas educational and especially tourism values diverged. FOPALI proved most suitable for scientific value and degradation risk, and Brilha’s framework for potential use. The threat analysis indicated maximum anthropogenic vulnerability, whereas the methodologies returned low to moderate values. INDICAGEOPAR complemented the others by separating pressures, estimating degradation timeframes and linking results to management actions. We propose a staged management framework, from legal protection to geotourism. Site-specific threat analysis should precede assessment forms, and combining complementary methodologies is recommended for palaeontological sites, particularly unprotected ones.