Geosite Assessment in the Beigua UNESCO Global Geopark (Liguria, Italy): A Case Study in Linking Geoheritage with Education, Tourism, and Community Involvement

Abstract

The inventory and the assessment of geosites plays a very important role in highlighting scientific, geotouristic, and geoeducational potential, as well as the ability to identify any criticalities and vulnerabilities of the geological heritage of a territory. Within a geopark, these assessment activities are also crucial for developing land management strategies and policies that not only meet the need to protect geological and natural heritage, but also to promote sustainable economic development of the area and local communities. The Beigua UNESCO Global Geopark (Liguria, Italy) includes fifty-four sites known for their significant geological values. In this work, we have combined a study aimed at the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of 10 of the 54 sites with the results of an analysis of the educational, touristic, and land management activities that have been developed on these sites from 2011 to 2021. The quantitative assessment of the ten selected sites reveals their high scientific value and considerable touristic and/or educational potential. Thus, they represent not only scientific geological heritage to be preserved but also a significant tourism resource for the geopark territory. This is confirmed by the great success of geotouristic and geoeducational initiatives developed in the park over the last ten years, and by the growing involvement of the local communities, institutions, entrepreneurial activities, as well as environmental, sports, and cultural associations. These results highlight some important aspects for the management of geological heritage and associated values within a geopark.

The Geoheritage Potential of the South-East Pałuki (Western Poland) to Promote Geotourism

“…The authoresses followed known examples from the literature (e.g. Pereira et al, 2007;Kubalíková, 2013;Brilha, 2016;Górska-Zabielska et al, 2019;Saurabh et al, 2021;Fancello et al, 2022;Marescotti et al, 2022). However, due to the specificity of the research area, they modified these parameters in relation to the characteristics and uniqueness of geosites in the young glacial relief which is abundant in the south-eastern part of Pałuki (see Sisto et al, 2020).…”

Geosite Assessment and Communication: A Review

“…Another example of geosite evaluation is contained in a work by Marescotti et al [99], who have performed the qualitative and quantitative assessment of 10 geosites in the Beigua UNESCO Global Geopark (Liguria, Italy), which features 54 sites known for their significant geological peculiarities. Among the 54 sites, the authors selected five of the twelve geosites officially listed in the Italian National Inventory of geosites by ISPRA [100] and five geosites chosen as representative of different geological features and processes, as well as relevant educational activities conducted in the park during the past decade.…”

The Rationale for Restoration of Abandoned Quarries in Forests of the Ślęża Massif (Poland) in the Context of Sustainable Tourism and Forest Environment Protection

“…An educational geologic trail presenting the ophiolite sequence in several quarries and rock outcrops would be relevant. Forms of protecting and providing access to geologically valuable ophiolite outcrops are in operation in other parts of the world, such as in the Italian geoparks of the Alpine orogenic range: The Beigua Geopark in Liguria [96] and The Monviso Ophiolite Geopark in Piemonte, Italy [97]. The Ślę ża ophiolitic trail, equipped with basic infrastructure such as display boards, would include those outcrops where no protection zones have been established for valuable plant species, e.g., the quarry in Kiełczyn (Section 4.3.4), in which tourists could approach the quarry faces and examine their geology at a close range.…”