Geoheritage values and threats related to sandstone crags of the Chřiby ridge (Moravian Carpathians, Czech Republic)

Rock landforms provide non-invasive, easy insights into the distant geological past, and they reflect landform evolution and processes shaping the earth surface in the past and present. Moreover, rock landforms, especially crags and tors, have a high geoheritage relevance. The territory of the Czech Republic shows many diverse examples of crags and tors, especially in sandstone areas. However, while the Bohemian Cretaceous areas have been examined in detail, the sandstone crags in Moravian Flysch Carpathians have been given only limited attention. The paper is focused on the sandstone crags in the Chřiby Mountains being explored from two main perspectives: identification of the crags as geoheritage elements and their assessment in terms of threats and degradation risk. The application of semi-quantitative assessment methods (degradation risk evaluation and Risk Assessment Matrix) enabled the ranking of the sites according to the degree of possible deterioration and helped to identify particular threats, which can be considered important when planning and managing the area’s natural resources. The recognition of geoheritage values of sandstone crags, along with identifying and evaluating risks and threats, may serve as a basis for effective management and further research.