Natural hazards and geological heritage in Earth science education projects

Abstract

To the non-specialist, the concept of geological natural hazard usually refers to natural processes affecting the geosphere that produce far-reaching and intense effects, involving significant transfers of matter and energy, in a relatively short time when compared to the human timescale. Usually, these processes are also associated with abrupt and destructive effects involving human activities and lives.From the geoscientific point of view, slower and more gradual processes, which produce small scale effects, can also pose a hazard, for example when the process results in the loss of scientific information or in the destruction of evidence of past events that cannot be reproduced, such as those related to the history of life, or when spectacular examples of particular aesthetic value are destroyed.Only widespread education and good quality communication, both rigorous and effective, can increase people's awareness and sensitivity to the need for protection of the geological heritage and for adopting geoethic attitudes. This paper presents some case studies in the Piedmont region (NW Italy) that involved students of primary and secondary schools in an active and participatory way and that represented a training opportunity for their teachers.

Non-Mineralized Fossil Wood

“…The muddy sediments that enclose large Glyptostrobus stumps also preserve seeds and cones, allowing "whole plant" identification [85]. The Stura di Lanzo Fossil Forest has been described in detail in a 2005 booklet [97] published in Italian by Parco la Mandria (Mandria Provincial Park). Conservation efforts at the site have included participation of teachers and young students [98,99].…”

A New Procedure for an Effective Management of Geo-Hydrological Risks across the “Sentiero Verde-Azzurro” Trail, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria (North-Western Italy)

“…In the international scene, the need for an effective administration through a sustainable development model of touristic places, featuring a great cultural and geo-heritage interest is increasingly evident [4][5][6]. The Cinque Terre National Park, established in 1999, is one of the most famous and visited parks in Italy.…”

InterGEO: a Digital Platform for University Education on Geomorphological Heritage

“…For example, mountain geosites are openair laboratories for environmental education for their high geodiversity, the activity of processes and their sensitivity to climate change (Reynard and Coratza 2016;Bollati et al 2017a). Also, sites exposed to natural hazards (Coratza and De Waele 2012;Ferrero and Magagna 2015;Bollati et al 2017b), volcanic sites (Kelley and Salazar 2017), karstic sites (North and van Beynen 2016) and even cliffs equipped for climbing (Bollati et al 2016) are important landmarks where to promote geological education. Geoparks (UNESCO 2016;Miśkiewicz 2016) and protected areas with geological interest (Serrano and González Trueba 2011;Ilieș et al 2017) are other privileged places to develop environmental education activities based on geological material.…”