Geoheritage, Geotourism, and Geoparks in North Africa: Current State

North Africa has a rich geological history that spans from the Archean to the Quaternary period, which is well reflected in its varied geological and geomorphological landscapes. This region has provided a diverse record of ancient life, including fossils from numerous geological periods. Noteworthy geological features, like the Alpine High Atlas Mountains and the Precambrian West African Craton, traverse multiple North African countries. While these landscapes provide valuable insights into Earth’s history and have significant educational potential, they are largely unknown to the public due to limited research on geoheritage, geoconservation, and geotourism. There has been no comprehensive geoheritage inventory in North Africa, with sporadic local efforts often driven by academic entities. Even though North African nations have legislation to protect cultural and natural heritages, the establishment of geoheritage inventory and protection is nascent. This chapter aligned with the goals of the African Geoparks Network, seeks to highlight the existing knowledge on North African geoheritage and promotes the potential of geosites for socio-economic development via geotourism and geoparks.