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

Abstract

The promotion of geological and geomorphological heritage is growing in importance for educational initiatives. The constantly increasing interest towards changing landforms due to changing climate conditions asks not only for improving the values of the cultural proposals but also for précising the subject of the discussion. Cultural trails and natural resources valorisation are more and more frequently based on the concept of geomorphosite, which is strictly linked to landform typology definitions. In sensitive areas, changing geomorphosites are considered of great interest as a typical response to changes in climate. In this paper, on the basis of recent research, we discuss the definitions of landforms and geomorphosites activity in relation to surface processes dynamics. In addition, we discuss the implications of geomorphological surface processes for geomorphosite evolution and degradation and their consequent impact on related valorisation activities. We indicate how both active and passive landforms, and therefore geomorphosites, are of great interest for scientific, educational and tourism purposes.

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

“…Several case studies focused on the importance of active geosites for explaining the dynamics of geomorphological processes in mountain environments (e.g. Pelfini et al 2009;Garavaglia and Pelfini 2011;Pelfini and Bollati 2014). Research on passive geomorphosites and past catastrophes are less developed.…”

“…The landforms and processes active in the current morphoclimatic conditions may be responsible for hazards, which might threaten the safety of visitors and tourists (Brandolini et al 2006;Pelfini et al 2009;Bollati et al 2013;Pelfini and Bollati 2014). In particular, fast-occurring processes might directly involve tourists in proximity to the sites of interest or along access roads and footpaths.…”

“…• Mountain areas often combine active landforms and processes (active geomorphosites) and inherited landforms (passive geomorphosites) (Thomas 2012;Pelfini and Bollati 2014), as well as evolving passive geomorphosites (Pelfini and Bollati 2014), that is inherited landforms that are reactivated by current active processes. In particular, many mountain areas show clear evidence of late-Pleistocene glaciations and, more in general, evidence of processes that have occurred in different morphoclimatic systems.…”

Photogrammetric Modelling for Urban Medieval Site Mapping. A Case Study from Curtea de Argeş, Romania

“…This is marked by the increase of advertisement using the media channels from simple descriptive panels to mobile applications targeting the historical sites (Martin et al 2014, Pelfini, Bollati 2014.…”

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

“…(ii) envisage landscape evolution; (iii) highlight their relationship with present societies and their future development [63,64]. Inherited geosites (i.e., passive geosites [61,63], which take us back to the past and have a particular heritage value as records and symbols of Earth's history and evolution.…”