Geomorphological heritage, conservation and promotion in high-alpine protected areas

Abstract

In recent decades, recognition of both cultural and natural heritage has grown in the Alps. This tendency illustrates a collective identity building (local, national, alpine), but it also highlights, in the current context of global change, a renewed reflection of man's relationship with the environment. Thus, a fundamental and scientific intrinsic value (as a part of wilderness) tends to be recognized in the natural heritage as a whole. However, geoheritage (and geodiversity) is still often perceived as a secondary natural component, compared with bioheritage (and biodiversity). In this context, we study the geomorphological heritage (landforms and the processes that shape them) of Les Contamines-Montjoie Natural Reserve. Indeed, despite the high geomorphological richness (especially glacial) of the reserve, which covers more than 4000 ha of the Mont-Blanc Massif, local recognition of this heritage is still limited. In order to recognize and protect it, and starting with a scientific study, this research identifies the main local richness and assesses the geotourist and educational potentials. Finally, several tools to educate and promote geoheritage (educational paths and website) are proposed. 13R e search eco.m o n t -Vo l u m e 4 , N u m b e r 1 , J u n e 2 0 1 2 ISSN 2 0 7 3 -1 0 6 X p r i n t v e r s i o n ISSN 2 0 7 3 -1 5 5 8 o n l i n e v e r s i o n : h t t p : / / e p u b . o e a w. a c . a t / e c o . m o n t

Landforms and Geomorphosites Ongoing Changes: Concepts and Implications for Geoheritage Promotion

“…The introduction of the term ePGs does not modify the existing and generally accepted definitions, but allows underlining more explicitly the different meaning of geomorphic activity, giving a qualifying attributes to the inherited landforms (see Bosson, Reynard 2011).…”

“…In general, present landscapes are always a combination of inherited and active landforms (Bosson, Reynard 2011). Bisci and Dramis (1991) define active landforms as those evolving under the action of the processes that generated them and thus are still evolving.…”

“…In general, landscapes present a combination of inherited (Bosson, Reynard 2011; i.e., passive geosites for Reynard 2004 a) and active landforms (Bosson, Reynard 2011;i.e. active geosites for Reynard 2004 a) that are worthy to be considered geomorphosites.…”

“…There are many potential implications that justify the attention towards AGs in the strict sense and inherited landforms (Bosson, Reynard 2011) especially when they are considered geomorphosites affected by undergoing change.…”

Analyse touristique d’un itinéraire géologique

“…Des centaines de travaux scientifiques ont été produits, ces dernières années, sur l'étude du géotourisme (Cayla, 2009 ;Bosson et Reynard, 2012). Ces travaux de recherche s'orientent à partir d'une étude scientifique des sites géologiques et géomorphologiques et une analyse des procédés de mise en valeur de ces sites protégés par différents acteurs, notamment des scientifiques spécialistes et passionnés des sciences de la Terre.…”