Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism

Abstract

Geodiversity treaties have multiplied and given rise to geological heritage as a singular value of protection and preservation for territories. The Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF) is a recognized Ecuadorian reserve, which was declared a National Heritage Treasure. It has an area of 2659 hectares, and it is located in the south of Ecuador, between the provinces of El Oro and Loja. The petrified trunks and trees were buried by volcanic lava, dating from the Cretaceous Period, 96 to 112 million years ago. Thus, silicification and carbonization, two important fossilization events, have produced hundreds of samples of paleontological wealth in Puyango. The objective of this work is to methodologically assess the geodiversity of a fraction of the PPF by registering its geological heritage and value for its preservation and sustainable development. The methodology is based on: (i) Analysis of information on the territory used for tourist visits, as a pilot study area. Presentation of paleontological components and their main sections to enhance their geotouristics value; (ii) Assessment of the geological heritage for its geotourism categorization with a recognized scientific methodology and one proposed by the co-authors propose; and (iii) Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) as a guide for protection and development strategies. Findings reveal the high geotourism potential for a Geopark Project in Puyango, since only 300 hectares are used for tourism and the remaining area is a virgin environment for research and improving knowledge of geodiversity and biodiversity.

1. Introduction

Geodiversity considers all the geological elements of the Earth’s crust, from the landscape to its internal structure that constitutes the various materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils. It is an inanimate part of nature, but at the same time significant to sustaining biodiversity, since the soil and subsoil generated by a series of geological processes are what sustain it, and what together are part of the natural beauty of a site; however, geodiversity has been downplayed by historically giving greater prominence to biodiversity [1]. Thus, the term geodiversity refers to the quality, spectacularity, and beauty of a site of an abiotic nature, which is why it deserves conservation [2]. The protection and conservation of geodiversity is an issue that until recently was not understood. However, this failure is being overcome thanks to the close link that exists between biodiversity and geodiversity, which can be achieved through proper management to preserve biocenosis and the biotope in an integral way [3,4].

Currently, the geological heritage is promoted and protected adequately towards the sustainable development of geotourism; this term emphasizes a form of tourism to natural areas that focuses explicitly on geology and landscape, promoting geosite tourism and the conservation of geodiversity for a better understanding of the earth sciences through appreciation and learning [5]. In geological terms, a geosite is defined by its scientific value that demonstrates the importance of the geological heritage of a specific area, which must be relevant and of importance to science [6]. This is accomplished through independent visits to geological features, such as geo-trails and viewpoints, guided tours, geo-activities, and the sponsorship of geosite visitor centres [7,8]. The term Geoheritage considers particular elements of geodiversity (petrological, geomorphological, structural, mineralogical, paleontological, stratigraphic, hydrogeological, pedological, among others) with a high scientific value [9]. Paleontological heritage of a geosite is the study of its scientific value through fossils, which are testimonies of life in the past, and which also reflect certain events in the geological history of Earth. Around them and the deposits in which they were found, numerous scientific features converge that can be considered objectively, allowing their value to be established; such as fossil types, relative age, state of conservation, among others. Therefore, paleontological heritage is part of the geological and natural heritage [10].

Geodiversity is evident that the fossils and deposits have meaning and provide information on the history of Life and Earth. Morevoer, the scientific component is relevant to place fossils and sites on a theoretical scale of paleontological value [11]. Fossil forests or petrified forests register a remarkable geological-paleontological heritage characterized by the wood of trees that has been buried under sediments and preserved by the absence of oxygen [12]. This type of fossilization is known as permineralization and emphasizes the replacement of the body’s molecules by minerals. In this case, petrified wood explains vegetal biodiversity of diverse historical times since it preserves its original structure to a microscopic level.

There are more than 20 specimens of petrified forests worldwide and only 3 belong to America— the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona-United States, the Petrified Forest of Santa Cruz Natural Monument in Patagonia, Argentina, and the Puyango Petrified Forest in Ecuador. All these forests are remarkable for their age, surface and paleontological wealth [13]. In Ecuador, forests cover 42% of the country’s total area; half of the area is used for production [14]. Dry forests are of particular importance, since they have less biodiversity than rainforests, but they are the habitat of more than 130 species of birds. These forests are located in two different areas: (a) on the central Pacific coast, which corresponds to the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena and Guayas; and (b) in the southern coast and western foothills of the Andes in El Oro and Loja that comprise the equatorial dry forest with a unique ecosystem in the world [15]. In the past, 35% of western Ecuador was covered by dry forest. However, 75% of the area has disappeared due to deforestation pressures and growth of the agricultural and livestock frontier.

Furthermore, PPF is recognized for its heritage as a true paleontological jewel that contains a large number of petrified trees of approximately 100 million years old, where the largest collection of petrified wood in the world is located. One of its largest specimens is the Petrino with dimensions of 2 m in diameter and 15 m in length. Its magnificence is given by a large number of petrified trunks that open the door to family, educational, scientific, geological-paleontological and naturist tourism. PPF is a unique beauty in the region with remnants of trees such as trunks and petrified leaves of Mesozoic flora, and fossils of invertebrates such as bivalves, ammonites, echinoderms, among others. Furthermore, its biodiversity coexists protected by the great slopes and breaks of the area [16,17].

In this regard, this study aims to respond the question: Could we define PPF as a geological heritage and a driving force for geotourism for its spectacularity, good exposure, paleontology, biostratigraphy, and stratigraphic content? Hence, the objective is to methodologically assess the geodiversity of a fraction of PPF as a pilot project, register its outstanding components (geological heritage) and value it for the preservation and sustainable development of the entire forest. For these purposes, an assessment is carried out using the scientific method of the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest (IELIG, acronym in Spanish) [18]. Moreover, some research-level experiences are recorded to assess sites of geological interest that could be considered as geosites [19,20].

2. Overview of the Study Area

Puyango forest is in the southern region of Ecuador, located in the canton Las Lajas, province of El Oro and Puyango-Alamor, canton-parish of the province of Loja. The cantons are divided by the Puyango river, located 7 km from the border with Peru. The forest occupies an extension of 2658 hectares (Figure 1), and in 1971, it was discovered by the academic staff of the Huaquillas night school that named it “Petrified Forest of Puyango” [20]. In 1973, PPF was declared Cultural Heritage On 9th January 1987 through Ministerial Agreement No. 22, it was declared a protected forest and vegetation due to the efforts of El Oro Cultural Development Center and the Central Bank of Ecuador. Later, in March 1988, it was declared part of the Natural Heritage of Ecuador [21,22].

Figure 1. Study area of the Puyango Petrified Forest and its geosites in the provinces of El Oro and Loja. Modified from [28].

This region is mountainous, with heights between 360 and 500 m.a.s.l. The current flora and fauna represent a group of transitional forms between the Pacific lowlands and the Andean elevations [23]. The biodiversity of the area corresponds to a tropical dry forest, which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, and its species belong to the Tumbesino Center of endemism owned by Ecuador and Peru [8]. Due to the geomorphological conditions of the area, caused by tectonic events and modeled by the erosion of rivers, PPF presents a great potential for geotourism appeal in this area for the exposure of petrified logs, a product of the fossilization process [24,25].

Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF) is considered one of the few remnants of tropical dry forest in the southwest of the country, where steep slopes and streams such as El Guineo, Las Concreciones, El Chirimoyo, El Limón, Sábalos and Cochurco have preserved the endemic vegetation of its ecosystem and other areas of secondary forest in recovery. In fact, stratigraphic units reveal a fossil richness of invertebrates of the phylum Mollusca and microfossils of foraminifera and calcareous nanofossils [26]. Puyango is an open book of geological succession and paleontological information of high scientific value for society, since it is one of the most representative and relevant forests in South America. PPF has been compared to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, United States—the largest in the world with more than 20,000 hectares. It has petrified tree trunks belonging to the Araucarioxylon arizonicum that are preserved from a conifer corresponding to the Late Triassic Period, already extinct in our times. Moreover, it has fern plant fossils, animals such as the Chinle frogs of the Chinle Geological Formation, and it is the habitat of a great variety of mammals, fauna, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in a desert environment [27].

Before becoming a tropical dry forest, Puyango was a sea, which dried up and transformed into large hectares of forests and animals. Due to natural cataclysms, geological movements and time, the organisms buried underground arose on the surface forming a trace of the planet’s remote past and a transcendent number of ancient and representative fossils that correspond to marine organisms that currently oscillate between 60 and 120 million years [26]. In this regard, Puyango emerged under coastal and terrestrial marine conditions in a relatively narrow basin caused by the continuous erosive tectonism, deformation, displacement, and deposits of pyroclastic materials during the Cretaceous. Before the Andes rose to the end of the Cretaceous 65 million years ago, gymnosperm forests originated on a relatively flat area like the lithified sediments that currently lean in different directions due to folding and tectonism. During this period, the area had a warm temperature. However, with the floods and volcanic activity east of the Andes, the forests were destroyed and deposits of buried trunk layers in alternating sequences of siltstones, sandstones, graywackes and conglomerates were reestablished by erosion [29]. The Andes mountain range slowly submerged the forest, placing it south of its current position in a subtropical climate along with calcium carbonate deposits and the presence of marine fossil invertebrates belonging to shallow water. The geological formation of the site is defined as a sequence of sedimentary rocks of the Late Cretaceous period formed by thin layers of calcareous black shales, crystalline, and massive black limestones, volcanic agglomerates, gray-green siliceous shales, brown shales, and volcano-sedimentary shales (Figure 2). In this type of Cretaceous (Albian-Middle) age materials, the petrified wood is found and in the upper part of the Coquina volcanic material, brown calcareous clays with mollusks and ammonites. In addition, a decreasing sedimentary volcanic grain sequence, clayey sandstones, tobaceous silt with petrified wood and reddish clay can be observed [30]. The trunks were dragged in an aqueous medium of remains of pyroclastic materials and deposited together with the sediments in a marine environment where they were covered by sediments as a result of the erosion of the Andes. Sediments are divided into four geological formations such as the Zapotillo, Cazaderos, Ciano, Ambín and Progreso. Marine invertebrate fossils such as gastropods, ostracods, and bivalves, which are associated with microfossils of the order of the foraminifera and calcareous nanophosiles of the Cretaceous (Middle Albian) age, are found in the layers of sedimentary materials [31]. The Puyango river is the limit between the provinces of El Oro and Loja and represents a great geological fault in the East–West direction. It has caused the folding of rocks at the gorges of El Chirimoyo, Cochurco and El Limón streams [32,33].

Figure 2. Geological map of the Las Lajas and Puyango cantons of the provinces of El Oro and Loja respectively. Modified from [28].

3. Materials and Methods

The proposed methodology for this study comprised three phases (Figure 3): (i) analysis of information from the pilot study area, the case of the Puyango Petrified Forest, scientific information regarding its geological interest, the presentation the paleontological components and their main geotouristic sections; (ii) assessment of the heritage site, using the methodology of the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest (IELIG, acronym in Spanish) and another proposal by authors to assess its geotouristics potential; and (iii) the results were confirmed with a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, to assess the heritage site status, and propose sustainable development strategies in the SWOT matrix [34].

Figure 3. Flowchart of the methodology used for research.

3.1. First Phase: Identification of the Pilot Area

In the first phase, the researchers realized a technical visit about the outstanding characteristics of the studied forest, which was carried out with a tourist guide and some national tourists. The route of the place consists of six stations of great geological and paleontological interest, in addition to the collection of historical and scientific information carried out in the sector [26,29,30] through the configuration of a database in scientific publications, works outreach, project reporting and data collection through expert interviews as the basis for further evaluation. This route included the use of database in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to obtain a map of the tourist route recorded in the Puyango forest.

Finally, this phase included the description geological, paleontological aspects and relevant observations of the geotouristics potential of seventeen possible geosites. We also presented its paleontological components that give the forest an important scientific interest for geologists and paleontologists. Much of its evidence was recorded in fossils such as petrified wood samples and remains of mollusc shell moulds that were found in some streams belonging to the provinces of El Oro and Loja, giving great geotouristics interest to the forest. Besides that, a stratigraphic column belonging to the Las Concreciones stream was described, and finally, it showed pictures of marine fossil invertebrates of the classes of pelecypod and cephalopod molluscs.

3.2. Second Phase: Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation

Moreover, the applied methodology comprises two factors: (1) intrinsic value of the Site of Geological Interest (LIG, acronym in Spanish), highlighting the geological aspects, and (2) use-value of the LIG. Therefore, with the collaboration of paleontologist Nelson Jiménez and archaeologist Jorge Marcos, experts who evaluate the scientific, didactic and touristic premises value, surveys are collected. The experts assign weights to each premise of the methodology developed in [18] (Table 1), where the degrees of Scientific interest (Si), Didactic interest (Di) and Touristic interest (Ti) are obtained. The scores of each parameter vary from 0, 1, 2 and 4, where 0 is the lowest score and 4 the highest, scores that are multiplied by the weight of the individual interests given in the methodology (Table 1).

Table 1. Indicators and weights used for the quantitative assessment of Sites of Geological Interest (LIGs). Modified from [18].

IELIG Methodology
Scientific Weight (Sw), Didactic Weight (Dw), Tourist Weight (Tv), Fragility Weight (Fw) and Vulnerability due to Anthropogenic Threats Weight (Vw)
Indicators/Parameters	Punctuation	Weight
		Sw	Dw	Tw	Fw	Vw
Representativeness	0–4	30	5
Prototype location character		10	5
Degree of scientific knowledge of the place		15
State of conservation		10	5
Observation conditions		10	5	5
Rarity		15	5
Geological diversity		10	10
Didactic content			20
Logistics infrastructure			15	5
Accessibility			15	10
Association with other elements of the natural and/or cultural heritage			5	5
Magnificence or beauty			5	20
Population density (potential aggression)			5	5		5
Proximity to recreational areas (immediate potential demand)				5		5
Informative content/Informative use detected				15
Potential to carry out touristic and recreational activities				5
Socioeconomic environment				10
LIG size				15	40
Vulnerability to plunder					30
Natural threats					30
Proximity to anthropic activities (infrastructure)						20
Interest for mining						15
Site protection regime						15
Physical or indirect protection						15
Accessibility (potential assault)						15
Place ownership regime						10
Total		100	100	100	100	100

Then, the total provides the value of Si, Di and Ti. If the LIG exceeds 266 points, it is considered a place of “Very high” interest. Hence, the scores between 134 and 266 will be of “High” interest, and those lower than 134 points will be considered to be of “Medium” interest. The following equations are defined for the value of each interest:

$$Si={\displaystyle \sum }_{i=parameter}^{n parameters}Puntuation\times Scientific weight$$

(1)

$$Di={\displaystyle \sum }_{i=parameter}^{n parameters}Puntuation\times Didactic weight$$

(2)

$$Ti={\displaystyle \sum }_{i=parameter}^{n parameters}Puntuation\times Tourist weight$$

(3)

Furthermore, a qualitative evaluation about conservation of the site is achieved, where the Susceptibility of Degradation (SD) of the site is evaluated based on the Fragility (F) and the vulnerability due to anthropogenic Threats (T). With the SD, researchers can obtain the Protection Priority (PP) for Si, Di, Ti of the LIG and rank the interests according to the PP value in its different vertices: scientific (SPP), didactic (DPP), touristic-recreation (TPP), and global (PP). Taking the threshold of the pilot project in the Iberian Cordillera [18] for a given value of the SD as reference, if the value is higher than 26, the PP degree “High” of the LIG. If the SD is equal to 26, the PP degree is “Medium”. The “Medium-high” and “Medium-low” PP will be around 8. To obtain the values of fragility (F) and threat (T) that allow prioritizing and monitoring of the conservation status, where it is susceptible to degradation, and to quantify the priorities SPP, DPP, TPP, and PP, the researchers used the following equations:

$$F={\displaystyle \sum }_{i=parameter}^{n parameters}Puntuation\times Fragility weight$$

(4)

$$T={\displaystyle \sum }_{i=parameter}^{n parameters}Puntuation\times Threat weight$$

(5)

$$SD=\left(\left(F\times T\right)\times 1/400\right)$$

(6)

$$SPP=\left(\left(S{i}^2\times SD\right)\times 1/{400}^2\right)$$

(7)

$$DPP=\left(\left(D{i}^2\times SD\right)\times 1/{400}^2\right)$$

(8)

$$TPP=\left(\left(T{i}^2\times SD\right)\times 1/{400}^2\right)$$

(9)

$$PP={\left[\left(Si+Di+Ti\right)/3\right]}^2\times SD\times 1/{400}^2$$

(10)

Moreover, the authors include a completed form of the proposed methodology that includes the Scientific, Didactic, Tourist and Popular Interest factors with Accessibility, Sensitivity and Conservation status (SDTPI-ASC), considering the 17 LIGs of relevant geological-paleontological importance. This approach strengthens the evaluated geological heritage. For this purpose, the interest categories are divided into Scientific interest (Si), Didactic interest (Di) and Touristic interest (Ti) and Popularization interest (Pi), with its sections on accessibility to the place, sensitivity to plunder and current conservation status, as a basis for future studies.

3.3. Third Phase: Strategies

In this phase, based on expert judgment, the SWOT matrix configuration was done, with experiences from technical visits and studies in the Puyango Petrified Forest (BPP). This matrix allows establishing opportunities for geotourism development, identifying strengths, weaknesses and threats. The particular singularity of the territory in its geological and paleontological heritage has been highlighted, with a high interest for national and international geologists interested in investigating the geological record of the place, the scientific, educational and recreational use to strengthen the local economy.

There is a high fossil content, pleated structures, sedimentary, volcanic, metamorphic rocks with a natural, integral and biodiverse perspective, with samples of petrified trunks, pelecypods, macrofossils and ammonites. In the analysis of experts, the limitations or problems of the geosites are also considered, to turn them into new strategies for local development.

A SWOT analysis was carried out to assess the conservation status of the heritage site and to propose sustainable development strategies in a SWOT matrix [34], where the Puyango geopark project has great potential to promote the development of geotourism in the zone.

4. Results

4.1. Identification of the Pilot Area

The identification of the pilot area includes the visit of the tourist trail carried out in the Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF), in the province of El Oro. This guided route lasts approximately 45 min and observation stops are made at the stations: (1) Lava flows, (2) Path of the Araucarias, that is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae, (3) Deposit of petrified logs, (4) Carboniferous zones, (5) Path of the Giant, and (6) Giant Petrine (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Map of the Puyango Petrified Forest tourist trail, El Oro Province [28].

For a better scientific reference about LIGs, Table 2 details the important geological aspects such as geological structures and type of rocks found in the geosite, as well as paleontological aspects that stand out for their fossil content, the type of fossilization and the number of petrified trunks found in each geosite which makes it an excellent geotouristic remnant.

Table 2. Geological and paleontological aspects of the LIGs.

N°	LIGs	Geological Aspects	Paleontological Aspects	Observations
1	PPF Tourist trail	Volcano-sedimentary rocks.	It contains abundant remains of well-preserved petrified trunks.	It is a guided tourist route in the tropical dry forest (fauna and flora).
2	Sábalos stream	Geological domain: Alamor, Lancones Basin. At the base, some ortho-quartzites and conglomerates rest discordantly on the Amotape, Tahuin massif. Black marl, massive layers of limestone and banded black shales, clays, siltstones and sandstones with lava and sedimentary volcano rocks.	It contains abundant remains of petrified trunks corresponding to Araucariaceas.	The trunks are well preserved, practically intact of large dimensions, the only fossil specimens resulting from the fossilization process of petrification, product of the replacement of organic matter by silica.
3	Cochurco stream	Volcanic materials and sedimentary limestones and shales.	Remains of fossil roots (charred), remains of petrified trunks. Fossil invertebrates, present as internal and external moulds.	A petrified trunk of Araucariaceas well preserved, in a significant vertical position.
4	Chirimoyo stream	Geological deformations (folds) in sedimentary rocks represented by clay.	Remains of fossil invertebrates: Pelecypods, Inoceramus and Ammonites; and microfossils: planktonic and benthic foraminifera, calcareous nanofossils and Palinomorphs.	Invertebrate marine fauna is very frequent.
5	El Limón stream	Geological deformations, fold (anticline) in volcano-sedimentary rocks. Calcareous rocks (Coquina type).	Petrified trunks well preserved. Invertebrate fossils: foraminifera and calcareous nanofossils.	Petrified (carbonized) trunks, in which the cellulose of the trees was transformed into anthracite due to the loss of methane, water and carbon dioxide. This geosite has a potential area to recreation (crystal clear lagoon).
6	El Guineo stream	It shows stratifications by the alternative deposit of sediments of different composition.	Fossil invertebrates: a phylum of molluscs, bivalves and ammonites and petrified trunks.	Pelecypod prints.
7	Gringo Beach	Volcano-sedimentary rocks, limestones, shales and clays.	Fossil invertebrates: a phylum of molluscs, bivalves and ammonites.	Vegetable fossil remains, from fossilization processes (carbonization).
8	Las Concreciones stream	Limestone outcrop associated with a core of Ammonites. Shales, marls and thin layers of clays. The limestones inside have pyrite.	Ammonite concretions. Molluscs, foraminifera and calcareous nanofossils and ostracods.	A unique geosite: can be shown calcareous concretions.
9	Las Palmas stream	Volcano-sedimentary rocks.	Remains of allochthonous petrified trunks.	Little diversity of petrified trunks.
10	Quemazón stream	Geological deformations, folding and thrust in limestone rocks.	Appears a few remains of petrified (charred) trunks.	Fossilization processes (carbonization).
11	Tunima stream	Volcano-clastic rocks, with levels containing petrified trunks.	Petrified trunks well preserved.	Petrified trunk in volcano-clastic rocks with a diameter smaller than found in Sábalos and Chocurco streams.
12	Puyango River course	Geographical reference whose cause has an altitude of 200 m.a.s.l, is the water axis of importance for the ENE-WSW direction according to the structural limits of the sector.	Allochthonous petrified trunks.	Appears remains of petrified trunks and fossil invertebrates.
13	Puyango, Alamor trail	None.	Allochthonous petrified trunks.	None.
14	El Tigre stream	Volcano-sedimentary sediments reddish color due to the presence of iron oxides.	Vegetable fossil remains (fossilized leaf) by fossilization processes (carbonization).	The only geosite with a petrified leaf specimen in the fossilization process (carbonization).
15	La Libertad fold	Metamorphic deformations. Anticline fold.	Geosite without paleontological remains.	Geological deformations due to compressive stresses.
16	Playón Las Pailas	Appears deposits of visible material of sedimentary rocks along the river bed in the dry season.	Sedimentary rocks carbonated, with remains of invertebrates.	Recreational tourist place for organized activities.
17	PPF Interpretation left	Exists geological information (samples of rocks and calcareous concretions).	Petrified trunks, fossils. Recreation area, location maps of the main gorges, paleontological information.	Disclosure area.

Some of the LIGs mentioned in Table 2 belong to the province of El Oro, such as the streams Sábalos, Las Palmas, El Tigre, El Guineo, El Gringo, Quemazón and in the province of Loja are the El Chirimoyo, Cochurco, El Limón, Las Concreciones and Tunima (Figure 5). In the Cochurco, El Chirimoyo and Las Concreciones streams, remains of mollusk shell molds such as pelecypods and ammonites have been found in the limestones [26].

Figure 5. Streams of the province of El Oro (a) Sábalos, (b) Cochurco, (c) Las Palmas and (d) Las Concreciones.

Moreover, a stratigraphic column of the Las Concreciones stream is shown (Figure 6) as a result of the scientific research carried out in. The stream adopted that name because at the beginning of the stream, precisely upstream, there are concretions of limestone rolled from the upper part, whose outcrop is made of sedimentary material. On the shales, limestones, marls and thin layers of clay are observed. Limestone concretions of 0.80 m in diameter are observed in the rock with a light gray hue. The limestones are crystalline with pyrite as a mineral. In addition, the concretion of two Ammonite molds lie, and a large limestone outcrop approximately 7 m thick stands out at the end of the station [27].

Figure 6. Stratigraphic Column of the Las Concreciones stream. Modified from [29].

The fossil invertebrates are marine and belong to the pelecypods and cephalopod classes of mollusks (Figure 7). The cephalopod class is represented by ammonoids represented by the internal and external molds as well as petrified shells in the Cochurco, El Chirimoyo, El Limón, Las Concreciones, and El Guineo streams. The internal molds of mollusks with Nucula spp, Inoceramus concentricus, Astarte spp and Heterodontido (See Supplementary Figures S1–S4) [26].

Figure 7. Macro-fossils in the province of Loja: (a) Pelecipodo heterodontido, (b) Ostrea sp., (c) Astarte sp., (d) Peltoceras sp., (e) Fragment of return of Ammonitido and (f) Schoenbachia sp.

4.2. Evaluation

The results of phase ii with the scientific, didactic and touristic interests are presented according to the IELIG methodology with its justification in Table 3.

Table 3. Description of the main indicators evaluated by the IELIG methodology.

Value	Indicators/Parameters	Description
Scientific value	Representativeness	The Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF) is a source of knowledge and well-being and it is the unique place with the best paleontological exposure in Ecuador. The area shows a sequence of volcano-sediment from the Cretaceous age (Albian-Middle). A collection of petrified trunks, fossilized leaves of common gymnosperms and remains of mollusk shell molds of the Southern Cretaceous have been found in PPF deposits.
	Prototype location character	PPF is a site of geological interest and a good example of a paleontological deposit, where specimens of petrified trunks and other allochthonous from Aptian-Middle and Jurassic-Cretaceous are found in situ.
	Degree of scientific knowledge of the place	There are several works published in national and international journals performed by geoscientists and theses carried out by students and professionals on geological, paleontological, archaeological, botanical, cultural, economic and tourism topics.
	State of conservation	PPF presents a regular state of conservation. Some deteriorated areas prevent the observation of geological characteristics (landslides). Some information panels are partially deteriorated.
	Observation conditions	The observation of several silicified trunks of Araucariaceas and Metapodocarpoxylon specimens, marine invertebrate fossils of the phylum Mollusca of the pelecypods class and cephalopod (ammonoids) possible. The fossilized flora corresponds to the subphylum of the mid-Mesozoic gymnosperms of the Zamites, Dioonites, Nilssonia, Otozamites, Podozamites, Carpites, and other genera. It is also a dry-tropical forest ecosystem that preserves species (fauna and flora) existing today.
	Rarity	The petrified trunks of Puyango represent one of the largest collections of petrified wood in Ecuador and probably in the world. The site has unique characteristics from the Cretaceous Period.
	Geological diversity	The paleontological aspect stands out as the main geological interest, followed by the stratigraphic, sedimentological, structural and geological history. Secondary features are the historical/archaeological, biodiversity, cultural and landscape.
Educational potential and touristic use	Didactic content	Educational visits and excursions from schools, colleges, and universities take place considering the protection of the geological-paleontological heritage of the place.
	Logistics infrastructure	It lacks nearby accommodations and restaurants for tourist groups, but it has an interpretation and information left for tourists.
	Accessibility	Using a national highway there is the access Guayaquil-Machala-Arenillas-Puyango with a 276 km route. From Huaquillas (border with Peru), there are 62 km. Another access road goes from Loja-Veracruz- Catacocha’s city through a state highgway and then El Empalme-Celica-Alamor-Puyango with a distance of 213 km [26].
	Association with other elements of the natural and/or cultural heritage	Numerous archaeological remains (petroglyphs) found in different parts of the Puyango canton.
	Magnificence or beauty	Landscape, river course, remains of plant fossils and invertebrates as evidence of ancient times.
	Informative content/Informative use detected	Limited and without a tourist information department.
	Potential to carry out touristic and recreational activities	It has touristic trails, fossil deposits and streams.
	Proximity to recreational areas (immediate potential demand)	There is a camping area less than 500 m from the forest.
	Socioeconomic environment	The most common economic activities are the short cycle crops sowing and coffee, cattle and pig raising.
Fragility	LIG size	Area of 2.6 ha. with 17 LIGs.
	Vulnerability to plunder	A paleontological site of great value, with numerous specimens and easy plunder.
	Natural threats	Possible landslides, flooding of rivers, weakening of the soil and climatic variations due to severe droughts.
Vulnerability due to anthropogenic threats	Proximity to anthropic activities (infrastructure)	Place not threatened.
	Interest for mining	No mining interest in the area.
	Site protection regime	Cultural Heritage, Ordinance for the Declaration of the Bi-provincial Protected Area, in the Category of Ecological Conservation Area.
	Physical or indirect protection	Protected area with access to tourists.
	Accessibility (potential assault)	It is directly accessible through unpaved and passable track for tourism.
	Place ownership regime	Location in restricted access areas declared as natural heritage.
	Population density (potential aggression)	The town is located at the entrance to the forest tourist complex that belongs to the province of El Oro, Las Lajas canton. It has an economically active population of approximately 200 people, mostly farmers [26].

To obtain the value of each item of interest, Equations (1)–(3) were used. Results reveal that the Puyango Petrified Forest presents a “Very high” and “High” global degree of interest in the Scientific (Si), Didactic (Di) and Touristic (Ti) aspects. Although some of them have a “Middle” public interest (Figure 8), the reason is that the lack of strategies that promote the geodiversity of the area through geotourism.

Figure 8. Assessment of the degree of geological interest of the LIGs in the Puyango Petrified Forest according to IELIG.

The results of the applied evaluation of the IELIG methodology are represented in Table 4, noting that there are four LIGs with Geological Interest (IG) “Very High”, nine of interest “High” and four “Medium”, reflecting the great relevance of the Puyango Petrified Forest. The Global Protection Priority (PPG) values are also shown, finding most of the LIGs with the rating of “Medium-low”.

Table 4. Quantitative assessment of parameters Scientific interest (Si), Didactic interest (Di), Touristic interest (Ti), Total Average Weight (Taw), Degree of geological interest (GI), Susceptibility of Degradation (SD), Scientific Protection Priority (SPP), Didactic Protection Priority (DPP), Touristic Protection Priority (TPP), Protection Priority (PP) and Global Protection Priority (PPG), according to the IELIG methodology.

N°	LIGs	Si	Di	Ti	Taw	GI	SD	SPP	DPP	TPP	PP	PPG
1	PPF Touristic trail	380	275	230	295	Very High	50	45.13	23.63	16.53	27.20	High
2	Sábalos stream	360	250	285	298	Very High	4.50	3.65	1.76	2.28	2.50	Medium-low
3	Cochurco stream	320	225	235	260	High	8.25	5.28	2.61	2.85	3.49	Medium-low
4	Chirimoyo stream	330	215	225	257	High	18	12.25	5.20	5.69	7.41	Medium-low
5	El Limón stream	335	215	260	270	High	0	0	0	0	0	Medium-low
6	El Guineo stream	185	150	175	170	High	0	0	0	0	0	Medium-low
7	Gringo Beach	240	165	175	193	High	9.75	3.15	1.66	1.87	2.27	Medium-low
8	Las Concreciones stream	270	175	255	233	High	5.63	2.56	1.08	2.29	1.91	Medium-low
9	Las Palmas stream	110	80	145	112	Medium	9	0.68	0.36	1.18	0.70	Medium-low
10	Quemazón stream	305	170	210	228	High	0	0	0	0	0	Medium-low
11	Tunima stream	320	225	235	260	High	8.25	5.28	2.61	2.85	3.49	Medium-low
12	Puyango River course	110	90	140	113	Medium	82.50	6.24	4.18	10.11	6.62	Medium-low
13	Puyango-Alamor trail	110	90	140	113	Medium	82.50	6.24	4.18	10.11	6.62	Medium-low
14	El Tigre stream	320	225	235	260	High	8.25	5.28	2.61	2.85	3.49	Medium-low
15	La Libertad fold	110	80	145	112	Medium	9	0.68	0.36	1.18	0.70	Medium-low
16	Playón Las Pailas	240	165	175	193	High	9.75	3.15	1.66	1.87	2.27	Medium-low
17	PPF Interpretation Center	380	275	230	295	Very High	50	45.13	23.63	16.53	27.20	High

The fossilized trunks resulted from the fossilization process, especially petrification by replacing organic matter such as cellulose and limenine with silica [33,35]. The paleontological importance with the highest concentration of logs has been found in the old Puyango-Alamor highway and El Chirimoyo, El Limón, and Cochurco streams, where specimens of logs of up to 26 m long by 2.2 m in diameter have been located (Figure 9).

Figure 9. (a,b) Logs petrified with silica. (c) Giant petrified trunk.

From the point of view of the conservation of LIG, it is necessary to determine the susceptibility of degradation. This analysis is performed through the fragility and natural threats components. Hence, mitigation actions can be taken to reduce as far as possible the vulnerability of the geosite and the damage caused by an event and anthropic threats identified in the sector. The data obtained as a result of the implementation of Equations (6)–(10) were presented in Table 4. With this values, Protection priorities “Medium-low” were identified for each of the protection priority parameters SPP, DPP, TPP and PP, which depend on the value calculated in the LIG Degradation Susceptibility (SD), this parameter is calculated independently of the others. The Figure 10 shows the sections of SPP, DPP and TPP with a global Protection Priority (PP) “Medium-low”, except for two LIGs with a PP “High”.

Figure 10. Assessment of the Protection Priority of the LIGs.

Additionally, all 17 LIGs which strengthen the entire system of geological-paleontological heritage in this sector are marked in the PPF. With the application of the Scientific, Didactic, Tourist and Popular Interest with Accessibility, Sensitivity and Conservation Status methodology (SDTPI-ASC), the authors identified the different types of interest: Scientific (Si), Didactic (Di), Tourist (Ti) and Popularization (Pi). The SDTPI-ASC was supported by the criteria of experts Nelson Jiménez, Jorge Marcos and Irina Xomchuk, based on [26]; Table 5 illustrates the SDTPI-ASC methodology.

Table 5. Referential assessment of the LIGs by the SDTPI-ASC methodology evaluated by experts in the Puyango Petrified Forest. It has a type of interest (✓).

N°	LIGs	UTM Coordinates	Type of Interest				Accessibility	Sensitivity	Conservation Status
			Si	Di	Ti	Pi
1	PPF Tourist trail	601735E, 9560324S	✓	✓	✓	✓	Good	Average	Good
2	Sábalos stream	602734E, 9570326S	✓	✓	✓	✓	Good	Average	Good
3	Cochurco stream	606966E, 9572143S	✓	✓	✓	✓	Good	Poor	Good
4	Chirimoyo stream	603047E, 9563869S	✓	✓	✓		Below average	Poor	Good
5	El Limón stream	606437E, 9571676S	✓	✓	✓	✓	Below average	Poor	Below average
6	El Guineo stream	598773E, 9567082S	✓		✓		Below average	Poor	Below average
7	Gringo Beach	600022E, 9573244S	✓		✓	✓	Below average	Poor	Good
8	Las Concreciones stream	602810E, 9570930S	✓	✓			Poor	Poor	Below average
9	Las Palmas stream	600442E, 9571602S	✓		✓	✓	Below average	Poor	Good
10	Quemazón stream	603298E, 9570534S			✓		Good	Poor	Below average
11	Tunima stream	612035E, 9570322S			✓		Below average	Poor	Good
12	Puyango River course	601926E, 9570859S		✓	✓		Regular	Poor	Below average
13	Puyango-Alamor trail	602305E, 9567823S		✓	✓		Good	Poor	Below average
14	El Tigre stream	605566E, 9571653S	✓	✓			Good	Below average	Average
15	La Libertad fold	600021E, 9573243S	✓	✓			Below average	Below average	Below average
16	Playón Las Pailas	606828E, 9571865S			✓	✓	Good	Below average	Average
17	PPF Interpretation Center	601354E 9568864S		✓	✓	✓	Good	Below average	Below average

4.3. Strategies

The results obtained through a SWOT analysis, which required extensive geological-paleontological fieldwork with experts and people from the community, are presented in Table 6. The authors took the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into account to obtain strategies in terms of sustainable geotourism.

Table 6. Matrix of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of the Puyango Petrified Forest.

	Internal environment	Strengths	Weaknesses
External environment		S1. Puyango is the unique petrified forest of Cretaceous-Aptian age in the country and it has international relevance. S2. It has an outstanding scientific interest due to the exceptional type of fossilization of the petrified trunks. S3. It was declared the Ecuadorian a Cultural Heritage Treasure. S4. The unique forest that combines petrified and natural trees. It is the habitat of 65 species of birds and other animals.	W1. Lack of “social awareness” necessary in a geological-paleontological and cultural heritage. W2. Lack of infrastructure and tourist care services (emergency ward, restaurants, and lodgings). W3. Lack of a bilingual tourist information center that provides scientific and relevant information W4. Lack of internet access and media communications.
Opportunities		Strategy: Strengths + Opportunities	Strategy: Weaknesses + Opportunities
O1. Geopark Project proposal under development by government entities and universities. O2. Protection and restoration of LIGs through various strategies with national and international organizations. O3. Geotourism development open to improvement. O4. Declare PPF as a Biosphere Reserve (BR) in the dry forest of southern Ecuador. It is a strategic opportunity.		S1.O1. Complement studies to generate a database of scientific information on paleontological resources. S2.O2. Develop strategies for the sustainable management of cultural and natural resources: conservation, research, and development for the proposal of the Puyango Geopark project. S3.O3. Undertake conservation and cleaning work on fossil outcrops, protection of specimens in situ, an adaptation of trails and placement of information panels.	W1.O1. Participatory Geopark proposal that integrates geodiversity, biodiversity, territory and people. W2.O2. Promote Social Management programs (training and awareness) that involve rural families in the management of resources. W4.O4. Promote the management of information, production and popularization of knowledge and tourism promotion at national and international level, through ICTs.
Threats		Strategy: Strength + Threats	Strategy: Weaknesses + Threats
T1. The burning of vegetation to obtain new land for planting. T2. Deforestation and overgrazing that degrades the ecosystem. T3. Collection of samples without approval from Authorities. T4. Demand from the neighboring country Peru for the pollution of the Puyango River due to mining effects outside the PPF [36]. T5. Possible landslides, river floods and climatic variations due to severe droughts.		S2.T4. Encourage the development of good bilateral relations with the neighboring country Peru. This strategy stabilizes the intra-border situation and encourages Peruvian tourism to the PPF area. S3.T3.T4. Recovery of the paleontological deposit of fossil outcrops of trees and marine invertebrates from the PPF and nearby areas such as the Piedmont of the Tumbesina eco-region (Ecuador-Peru). S4.T3. Legal regulations with permanent control on all activities within the forest, such as trail management, conservation, staff performance, tour operators, transportation income, agricultural production, etc.	W1.T1. Promote sustainable tourism and mitigation of local anthropogenic threats. W2.T2. To plan and promote the reforestation in selected areas through a pilot program, all together with farm owners within the forest has protected area to establish a mining-environmental order. W3.T3. Find private investors for the construction of a tourist accommodation and recreation center. W4.T4. Build a permanent Information Center and administrative offices, according to the regulations to certify the area as an eco-touristic site.

5. Discussion

The results obtained based on the IELIG’s methodology provided data for both a quantitative and qualitative analysis, where the experts in geological, paleontological and archaeological sciences highlighted the forest’s value as a unique example of the Cretaceous Period at a national level, which requires the recovery and preservation of its importance of the PPF as an Ecuadorian unique example of the Cretaceous Period, which requires the recovery and conservation of its heritage for sustainable development [37]. Additionally, the analysis suggested that the geotourism alternative supports the “Puyango” Geopark project. Experts have considered a referential assessment from 17 LIGs taken in the forest which on average are described as “below average” accessibility, “poor” sensibility and a “below average” conservations state that supports the usage of strategies to enhance the development of this area destinated for the geotourism as a pedagogical tool; it also promotes the restitution and improvement of geological and paleontological informative panels. Thus, it is essential to incorporate a web page to strengthen and increase the influx of tourists in the area, where the site is scientific and cultural information is disseminated nationally and internationally and to keep a record of annual visits.

The methodological study allows considering the PPF as a Geological Interest Place (LIG, acronym in Spanish) for the geological, paleontological, historical and cultural environment that surrounds it. The results evidenced to “Very high” geological interest in the LIGs “PPF Touristic trail”, “Sábalos stream”, “El Limón stream” and “PPF Interpretation Center”; “High” geological interest in “Cochurco stream”, “Chirimoyo stream”, “El Guineo stream”, “Gringo Beach”, “Las Concreciones stream”, “Quemazón stream”, “Tunima stream”, “El Tigre stream” and “Playón Las Pailas” highlighting the paleontology of the place. The LIG Protection Priority (PP) scores classified as “Medium-low” in most LIGs; this is because the Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF) is a protected natural reserve of public administration, which gives it the competence and authority to management and protection policies. The LIGs to “PPF Touristic trail” and “PPF Interpretation Center” have a “High” rating of Protection Priority since they have a high influx of national and international visitors [17]. In the assessment, vulnerability to plunder also responded to the anthropic threat caused directly by collectors as the paleontological appeal is an intrinsic characteristic of the geosite. Therefore, knowing its PP fosters the adoption of measures for the conservation of the LIG [38,39].

Despite having high values in the geological-paleontological interest, it is necessary to monitor PPF, implement the proposed strategies and analyze its tourist development since it has 13,000 visitors per year, 70% are domestic tourists and 30% foreign [40]. Furthermore, the present study identifies shortcomings in terms of the infrastructure, as the place demands services for tourists such as accommodation, restaurants, a health care center and internet access and media communication. Nevertheless, PPF, with just 2659 hectares, has great potential compared to other forests with a large concentration of petrified wood such as the Jaramillo Petrified Forest National Park in Santa Cruz-Argentina of the Middle-Upper Jurassic Period [41]. The latter has 15,000 hectares and an average of 4800 tourists a year. Another case is the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, United States, of the Triassic Period, that includes more than 20,000 ha and around 5800 visitors per year [42,43].

Therefore, the results obtained in this study were satisfactory and provided necessary information to evaluate possible threats that affect the forest and its heritage in a natural environment and to boost the execution and implementation of scientific and territorial ordering in projects according to the population’s capacity and the reality of the site [44,45].

6. Conclusions

The assessment of the methodology of the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest (IELIG, acronym in Spanish) carried out on seventeen different stations in the Puyango Petrified Forest, proved that it is a Place of Geological Interest (LIG, acronym in Spanish). Thus, PPF is in the categories of Very high and High interest in the scientific, tourist and educational sectors, for its great potential and geological relevance to promote geotouristic development.

The geodiversity of the forest is the main strength of the area, since it is considered a geological-paleontological heritage site, for purposes of touristic interpretation. PPF is one of the few sites in the world where you can analyze the paleontological aspects of the prehistoric flora and relate it to the current plant landscape. These characteristics make PPF an icon of geotourism in the sector. Hence, the proposed methodology SDTPI-ASC assessed the 17 LIGs in a preliminary stage and gave PPF a great value as a place of geological-paleontological heritage. Moreover, this analysis is a significant contribution to academia and its application facilitates the recognition of LIGs. Thus, the geopark project generates an alternative for the scientific, cultural and economic development of the population through a territorial order that addresses the 2030 Agenda and contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The importance of anthropogenic threats (deforestation, overgrazing, sample collection, burning of vegetation for new land and planting) and natural threats (landslides, river floods, severe droughts) faced by the geosites urge the protection and conservation of the LIGs. Therefore, strategies will substantially improve environmental, geological and paleontological conservation, as well as community participation and dissemination in the short and long term.

Finally, the development of bilateral relations with the neighboring country Peru will stabilize the intra-border situation and encourage Peruvian tourism to the PPF area. In addition, it will promote relations with international organizations interested in supporting the proposal for the sustainable conservation and resource management of the Puyango geopark project.