Resumen de Patrimonio Paleontológico de Murcia: marco legal y líneas de actuación
Miguel Angel Mancheño Jiménez, Gregorio Romero Sánchez
Paleontological heritage is mentioned and regulated by two different state laws: The Historica lHeritage Law (1985) and the Law of Protection of Natural Areas (1989). From this general legal framework, the Autonomous Communities having the responsability of their enforcement, havedeveloped these national laws in very different manner and intensity. Within the Community ofMurcia, despite the existence of this legal framework, real situation is still far from appropriate. Palaeontological heritage has only been managed as a part of the historical heritage and always subordinated to archaeology, paleontologists never taking part in the management works or programmes.Yet, it seems that something might be slowly changing: In the recent years the Autonomous Government of Murcia has prompted the beginning of a long-term research project to systemizing and cataloguing the palaeontological heritage of the region. This would include the completion of a computerized catalogue of paleontological sites and collections, as well as the scientific and legal evaluation of paleontological sites. On the other hand, a detailed inventary of vertebrate and invertebrate fossil remains of this region is being carried out by the research staff of the University of Murcia.
