The importance of mountain geomorphosites for environmental education: examples from the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps

Because of their specific physical characteristics (altitude, slope, orientation, climate), mountain environments have an important natural diversity. In particular, their geodiversity is generally much larger than in the lowlands, and because mountain geosites are often very aesthetic, mountain areas present a great potential for geoheritage, geoconservation and geotourism studies. This paper reviews six reasons why this potential is high and concludes that mountain areas are particularly interesting to develop educational programs on three current environmental issues: climate change; natural hazards; and human impacts on particularly sensitive geomorphological environments. Then, the paper reviews the principal research in the field of geoheritage currently carried out on these three topics and presents two case studies in the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps

Urban geomorphological heritage. An overview

Urbanization is a global phenomenon and currently more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Studies on geomorphological heritage and the development of specific methods of investigation (assessment, inventories, cartography) are, however, relatively rare and limited. This paper first describes the relationships between urbanization and geomorphology. Secondly, it presents an overview of the main works on the urban geomorphological heritage. Then, the main methods of investigation are presented. Finally, we discuss the challenging issues concerning the protection and the promotion of the urban geomorphological heritage

Urban Geomorphological Heritage. An Overview

Urbanization is a global phenomenon and currently more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas. Studies on geomorphological heritage and the development of specific methods of investigation (assessment, inventories, cartography) are, however, relatively rare and limited. This paper first describes the relationships between urbanization and geomorphology. Secondly, it presents an overview of the main works on the urban geomorphological heritage. Then, the main methods of investigation are presented. Finally, we discuss the challenging issues concerning the protection and the promotion of the urban geomorphological heritage

Geodiversity and Geoheritage: Crossing Disciplines and Approaches

In recent times, two terms, which are being used more and more frequently have been introduced into scientific nomenclature: Geoheritage (cf. Reynard and Brilha 2018 and references therein) and Geodiversity (cf. Gray 2013, 2018 and Najwer and Zwoliński 2014 and references therein). The concept of geoheritage was introduced in the 1970s (cf. Martini 1994), whereas geodiversity has been recognised as a concept worth investigating from the 1990s onwards (e.g. Wiedenbein 1993; Sharples 1995) but several recent attempts have been made to properly define and assess it (cf. Zwoliński et al. 2018 and references therein). Since their appearance, both concepts have aroused strong interest and debate, not only of researchers in Earth Sciences but also of experts in biology (e.g. Parks and Mulligan 2010; Hjort et al. 2012), spatial planning (e.g. Poiraud et al. 2016; Gordon et al. 2018; Bruschi and Coratza 2018 and references therein), general tourism (cf. Newsome and Dowling 2018 and reference therein) as well as national geotourism (e.g. Asrat et al. 2008 for Ethiopia and Migoń 2012 for Poland and references therein) and cultural heritage (e.g. Margottini 2007; Přikryl and Torok 2010; Coratza et al. 2016; Reynard et al. 2017), especially those interested in integrated and interdisciplinary approaches. This increase in awareness is testified within scientific circles by the numerous scientific conferences, workshops and sessions on geoheritage and geodiversity issues organised during the last two decades. Worthy of note is the increasing success from 2013 of the joint session on geoheritage and geodiversity in the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, which demonstrates the importance of heritage issues to the geoscience community

Tutela e valorizzazione di una risorsa per il territorio: la valle del Rio della Rocca (Appennino reggiano)

Le attività estrattive condotte a partire dagli anni ‘50 del XX secolo hanno profondamente modificato la porzione orientale e mediana del bacino del Rio della Rocca nel Comune di Castellarano (Appennino reggiano). Considerato l’elevato pregio degli elementi naturali dell’area e per contro il degrado ambientale – essenzialmente legato alla presenza di cave abbandonate – in cui essa versa, è emersa da tempo la necessità di una riqualificazione territoriale basata su una fruizione a fini turistico-ricreativi della valle, che tenga in debita considerazione i diversi aspetti naturalistici che la caratterizzano, compresi quelli di interesse geologico. Per definire opportune strategie e azioni di riqualificazione, si è resa necessaria un’analisi delle restrizioni e delle opportunità che il territorio presenta. A tale scopo è stata effettuata una dettagliata ricognizione della normativa vigente con particolare riguardo per le disposizioni previste dagli strumenti di gestione per i siti inclusi nella Rete Natura 2000, di cui la valle del Rio della Rocca fa parte come Sito di Importanza Comunitaria. Tra le risorse territoriali che l’area offre è emerso come la spettacolarità e l’esemplarità degli elementi del patrimonio geologico della valle rappresentino un’opportunità per operare una valorizzazione in chiave geoturistica. A tal proposito, sono stati individuati i siti di interesse geologico che meglio si prestano agli obiettivi di valorizzazione, al fine di indirizzare i primi interventi di riqualificazione e conservazione.Conservation and improvement of a natural territorial resource: the valley of Rio della Rocca (Italy). The quarrying activities carried out since the 1950s have deeply modified the lower-middle sector of the Rio della Rocca valley in the municipality of Castellarano (Reggio Emilia Apennines, Italy). The great value of the natural elements is, however, accompanied by environmental degradation, mainly due to abandoned quarries. Interventions aimed at territorial upgrading for the purpose of recreation and tourism had to be devised, taking into account the different naturalistic aspects of the area including its geological features. In order to define suitable strategies and actions, an analysis of territorial restrictions and opportunities was necessary. For this purpose, a detailed review of current legislation was carried out, with particular regard to the provisions stated by the management tools of “Natura 2000 Network”, in which the Rio della Rocca catchment is included as a Site of Community Importance. Among the territorial resources of the area, the scenic value and the exemplarity of its geological heritage are an opportunity to carry out territorial upgrading by assigning the valley to qualified geotourism activities. The sites of most considerable geological interest have therefore been selected, in order to establish preliminary requalification and conservation measures

Natural and anthropogenic agents in the present geomorphological dynamics of the Torrent Corlo mountain catchment (Northern Apennines, Italy)

The morphological changes affecting a small mountain catchment in the territory of Modena (Italy) have been taken into account. In particular, based on detailed field surveys and analysis of remote sensing imagery, an assessment was made on the natural and anthropogenic agents which have modelled this basin in the past 80 years. For several decades, the Torrent Corlo catchment was subject to intense exploitation of clay raw materials in order to supply a flourishing ceramic tile industry. As a result, a strong, negative impact has affected the landscape and, in some areas, the geomorphological evolution due to man’s activities greatly surpasses the changes ascribable to natural processes, such as landslides or stream channel processes. Since 2008, all quarrying activities have ceased and the local public administration has started a project of reclamation of the abandoned clay pits, although it will not be possible to restore completely the original, natural features of this catchment. A comparison is made with the sub-catchment Rio delle Vigne valley, which has been spared from anthropogenic changes and has been affected only by natural gravity-induced processes, which have produced some twelve landslides. The final products of this research are the implementation of the first geomorphological map of the T. Corlo mountain catchment and an updated version of the hydrological hazard map, in which active and dormant landslides are much more numerous than those mapped in any other previous geological map (s.l.). These documents can be utilized for any intervention by public boards aiming at recuperating and improving this intensely exploited area

Malta and Sicily Joined by Geoheritage Enhancement and Geotourism within the Framework of Land Management and Development

Malta and Sicily, which lie at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, share a long history and have unique geological and geomorphological features which make them attractive destinations for geotourism. In the framework of an international research project, a study for the identification, selection and assessment of the rich geological heritage of Malta and Sicily was carried out, aiming to create a geosite network between these islands. Based on the experience and outputs achieved in previous investigations on geoheritage assessment carried out in various morpho-climatic contexts, an integrated methodology was applied for the selection, numerical assessment and ranking of geosites. The selection phase was based on three main criteria-scientific, additional and use values-and led to the establishment of a list of 42 geosites (20 in Malta and 22 in Sicily). Besides being spectacular and attractive for tourists, these sites represent the main geomorphological contexts and the various stages of regional morphogenesis of the study areas. The sites selected were assessed quantitatively and ranked according to management and tourism criteria. The results provide both the necessary basic knowledge for joint conservation actions and policies in Malta and Sicily and the elements for creating a link between Malta and Sicily through geoheritage appraisal and tourism development

Soil excavation as the main morphogenetic agent in the Torrent Corlo Valley (Northern Apennines, Italy)

This work deals with morphological changes in the landscape of the valley of the Torrent Corlo from the mid-20th century to date caused by soil excavations. The study was carried out according to the traditional methods used in geomorphology as well as digital processing methods on maps and aerial photographs. The digital data available have been overlaid and compared using GIS software also by means of 3D elaborations in order to better appreciate the morphological features. The main stages of the evolutional trend determined by soil excavation are described and mapped. Finally, a detailed assessment is made of the fundamental role played by excavation activity as a morphogenetic agent of the T. Corlo Valley as well as its impact on the natural evolution of the landscape