Granitic inselbergs of Lara(Panafrican Chain,Far-North Cameroon):Assets for the implementation of geotourism in Mountainous region

The locality of Lara(Far-North Region,Cameroon)is made up of a pediplain strewn with coalescent plutons.The interaction of internal and external geological processes has contributed to transform the latter into inselbergs,whose geotouristic values are yet to be studied.Field and laboratory work enabled us to select the geomorphosites through their aesthetic value(particular size and shape)and,geomorphological and geological features.Moreover,it permitted to study and map the geomorphosites using Optic Microscope,Google Earth,GIS software and many other interfaces.Hence,four inselbergs have been selected and studied in the locality of Lara.The petrographic study of these inselbergs shows that granites are the main components of inselbergs and they present a fine to coarse-grained texture,materialized by quartz,micas,plagioclases and alkali feldspars(white and pink in colour).Inselbergs exhibit vertical and parallel networks of diaclases giving them a stratified appearance in some flanks.In addition,on some inselberg limbs and piedmonts,are built tors which contribute to their beauty.The tops of inselbergs,are embellished by several alluring pedestal rocks.On their flanks,shelters of various shapes and sizes(about 12 m length)have developed through the heaps of blocks field.Among the ten shelters selected,some have a fairly high cultural value as they are sacred places for the local population.Moreover,Lara's granitic inselbergs include enclaves(cognate enclaves and xenocrysts)that also significantly improve their geoheritage value.Inselbergs are landforms with high education and aesthetic value that attracted a larger local and foreign population of about 863 visitors between 2017-2019.They constitute an exceptional geoheritage that could attract more tourists in the locality of Lara;but the promotion of geotourism is needed through interpretative panels,marketing of geomorphosites through leaflets,web,media,and geotours,to mention a few.

Species richness and similarity of the flora on four lajedos in Boa Nova, Bahia, Brazil

The municipality of Boa Nova,in northeastern Brazil,is in an ecotone zone between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest phytogeographic domains.The transition phytophysiognomy is seasonal forest and known locally as mata de cipó.In these phytophysiognomies there are lajedos,which are rock outcrops colonized by vegetation welladapted to extreme microclimatic variation and vegetation diversity is affected by the vegetation types of the surrounding areas.Due to the singularity of these environments and the relevance of floristic studies for conservation,this work aimed to identify the species richness and compare the similarity of the flora on four rock outcrops in Boa Nova.The flora was surveyed during exploratory walks along lajedos between 2016 and 2019.In total,162 species were identified on the Boa Nova outcrops.The flora has a composition and structure similar to semiarid outcrops,as well as endemic species that also occur in surrounding phytophysiomies.Despite the proximity,a similarity index revealed there is floristic dissimilarity between the areas.Nine new occurrences were recorded for the region,five species are threatened with extinction(Aosa gilgiana,Ficus cyclophylla,Hippeastrum stigmovittatum,Pleroma caatingae and Trixis pruskii),and 43 species are common in anthropogenic areas.This reinforces the importance of actions to conserve these areas.