'Geoheritage' refers to elements of geodiversity considered worthy of protection, offering insights into Earth's history. Understanding this history is vital for comprehending current climate and environmental changes and fostering climate-resilient societies. Geoheritage and geodiversity are important in a sustainable society, significantly contributing, e.g., through geotourism, to the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Several initiatives have been developed to promote geodiversity and geoheritage. For instance, in 2021, UNESCO endorsed the International Geodiversity Day, which has been celebrated globally on October 6th since 2022. Furthermore, the Zumaia Declaration of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in October 2022 emphasized the importance of promoting and preserving geoheritage and geodiversity for societal benefit.
In this context, the session aims to offer a comprehensive platform for studies on geodiversity and geoheritage, establishing an international hub for collaboration and raising awareness of their societal role. Focus areas includes:
• Methods and tools in geodiversity and geoheritage, such as assessments and mapping techniques.
• Geoconservation and geotourism management, with strategies for geoheritage site preservation and community involvement through citizen science projects.
• Geoheritage and education, highlighting experiences in innovative educational programs and the role of geoparks in disseminating geoscientific knowledge and increasing geoheritage awareness.
• The social and cultural links between geodiversity, geoheritage, and cultural identity.
• The interaction between geodiversity and biodiversity, emphasizing the role of abiotic components in ecosystem services.
The session is co-organised by the Geomorphosites Working Group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) and ProGEO, the International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage.
Communicating research results for socially relevant action is one of the great challenges of our time. Landscape degradation, climate change and energy supply are pressing problems. In the project "UNESCO World Heritage Upper Harz Water Management: Landscape Change and Energy Use in the Anthropocene in the Harz - A Journey of Water from the Past to the Future" in cooperation between the Samson Mining Museum (St. Andreasberg) and the University of Goettingen, the historical exhibition objects were explored in the context of the current research discourse on the Anthropocene, the postulated geological era of man, and presented in a digital media station. The earth system science hypothesis of the Anthropocene concept assumes that humanity has become a dominant earth system factor and that the relationship between nature and culture must be re-conceptualized. The focus of the transdisciplinary research project is on the anthropogenic hydro-geomorphological changes in the Harz.
The Harz was one of the most important mining regions in Europe in the early modern period. The Upper Harz Water Management System, a sophisticated and interconnected system of ponds, ditches and underground water galleries, was used to supply the mines with energy. It was declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as an addition to the existing World Heritage site “Mines of Rammelsberg & Historic Town of Goslar”. The Samson mine, once one of the deepest mines of the 19th century, is also part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Harz - Braunschweiger Land - Ostfalen. The media station uses geovisualizations to present the Upper Harz Water Management System in its spatio-temporal changes on the earth surface as well as underground in regard to current and future social challenges of environmental changes in a local-global context. Changes in environmental conditions, resource availability and deposit yield, as well as changing socio-political conditions, required permanent adjustments and a sustainable management of resources to maintain the ore production. Based on the findings of the historical insights and the educational guideline of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), museum visitors are encouraged to reflect on the perception, evaluation and management of landscapes, to establish the connection between their own actions and environmental changes and to think about future visions for a sustainable development. The focus of the communication is the authentic experience in a historic mine, the Samson mine, which is now used to generate renewable energy in St. Andreasberg based on the concept of social-emotional learning.
How to cite: Iturrizaga, L. and Barsch, C.: UNESCO World Heritage and geo-environmental education: Science Communication at the Samson Mining Museum (St. Andreasberg) - “Energy Landscape Harz”, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2393, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2393, 2025.
The Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark (OUGGp) comprises the municipalities of Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Lourinhã and Torres Vedras. Located in the Portuguese central west region (Europe), it has a total area of 1154 km² and 72 km of Atlantic coastline. Rocks from the Jurassic Period are the most common in the territory, representing 77% of the total area, and are known for its many dinosaur discoveries. The dissemination of the geological heritage is one of the main goals of UNESCO Global Geoparks. Here we present three tools created by the OUGGp seeking to promote its heritage among schools.
In 2021, the “Rocha²” project was created as part of Educational Programs Catalog of the OUGGp. Its main goal is to bring the geodiversity elements of the OUGGp to schools, in a didactic and enjoyable way. The project includes two boxes (one for 7th grade; and one for 10th and 11th grade) and four manuals (one for 7th grade students; one for 10th and 11th grade; and two for their respective teachers). The boxes have different rock samples and fossil replicas. The manuals include complementary activities (e.g. letter soups, crosswords, and quizzes).
In 2022, OUGGp produced the “De Costa (En)Costa” webdocumentary (https://costaencosta.pt). Based on an online platform, the viewer can interact with different contents from the different geosites of the OUGGp, on its own time and sequence. It provides the opportunity to take a virtual tour through the territory where, on each geosite, the visitor can interact with 360º videos of the place, watch scientists’ explanations and diagrams about different topics (Geology, Paleontology, Geography, Archeology, and local Culture) in a simple language, as well as 360º views of Planet Earth through geological time. This platform is accessible at home or outdoors, because it adapts to mobile phone format.
In 2023, the OUGGp opened CIGO - Oeste Geopark Interpretation Center, as the main territory entrance, offering the visitor a journey through 250 million years of our planet's history, in a single space. There, the visitor can discover the “footprints” that Earth’s evolution left in this territory, including the birth of the North Atlantic Ocean, the life and death of dinosaurs, the beginning and evolution of humanity and the people and traditions that shape the identity and the daily life of the territory.
How to cite: Marques, I., Pimentel, N., and Pereira, B.: Communicating geological heritage to schools: examples from the Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark (Portugal) , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20686, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20686, 2025.
Geological Survey Ireland supports the development and sustainability of Ireland’s geoheritage through community-driven initiatives supporting geoscience outreach and education. This grant-aided support includes projects on geotourism to promote community engagement and development of geoheritage awareness and cultural identity. Our ongoing support is particularly relevant in the context of the increase of tourism interest in geoheritage both from home and overseas as seen in our UNESCO Global Geoparks and initiatives such as geotourism, geoheritage and outreach projects. A grant scheme which began 10 years ago to support UNESCO Global Geoparks in Ireland develop and promote geoheritage awareness initiatives was extended, in 2019, to include all community groups with relevant geoheritage interests. The social and cultural links between communities are extended through this scheme to include geodiversity and geoheritage. Illustrated case studies showcase the successful development of geoheritage promotion and protection through local awareness, resulting directly from the funded projects. The success of these projects in linking geoheritage to social and community activities is demonstrated by the follow-on activities and benefits to the community and local culture. Geodiversity, being the foundation for many aspects of our cultural expression and identity in the landscape as well as the basis for much of our biodiversity can provide communities with a ‘sense of place’, and communities through these projects promote geological heritage for current and future generations.
How to cite: Glanville, C.: Geoheritage Community Outreach and Education in Ireland – Grant-Supported Community Initiatives., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6810, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6810, 2025.
Fluvial systems in lowland environments in northwestern Europe have changed from nature to human-dominated systems. Climate change, as well as indirect and human activities such as land use change have an impact on the water and sediment balance, which may alter the river channel patterns, degree of sinuosity and channel dimensions. Direct human interventions such as levee construction and river straigthening may further change the morphological properties of river channels and their adjacent floodplain environment. In areas like lowland Belgium, the climatic transition from Late-Glacial to Holocene conditions resulted in a dramatic changes in river planform from braided to large meanders to small meandering channels. Next, these systems have experienced increasingly important human impact from the Neolithic to the present and rivers and floodplains have changed from anostomosing patterns in swampy floodplains to single-thread meandering channels with natural levees and backswamp areas to straighthened rivers disconnected from their floodplain. Depending on local conditions, channel patterns from all these time periods are still preserved in the landscape today and can increasingly be seen on high-resolution LIDAR elevation data. Also alluvial fans, crevasse splays and levees that are a testimony of increased sediment fluxes following human deforestation are preserved and represent a large variability in soil properties. All these subtle changes in topography and soil properties in these lowland environments that are related to millennia long changes in fluvial activity also lead to a high spatial variability in ecological conditions. With a renewed interest in river restoration projects (eg in line with the new EU nature restoration law), increasing biodiversity in floodplain environments through rewetting is often promoted. Whilst it is clear among geoscientists that the high biodiversity is strongly coupled to the large geodiversity in terms of topography, hydrology and soil properties, the geoheritage value coupled to this high geodiversity is not acknowledged by nature conservationists. Hence, many older channels may be dredged, enlarged, deepened to promote ecological conditions, however, withouth taking into account that geoheritage values may be destroyed. We encourage policy makers and nature conservationists to foster geoheritage in nature restoration projects. In this presentation, examples of highly geodiverse floodplains in northern Belgium will be shown and experiences with stakeholder interactions (river managers, nature conservationists, heritage agencies) and policy makers will be shared. I hope to stimulate discussion on how we as geoscientists can act best to promote the preservation of geoheritage in fluvial systems.
How to cite: Verstraeten, G.: Geoheritage in lowland fluvial systems: preserving legacy landforms formed by natural and anthropogenic processes., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13528, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13528, 2025.
IUGS acknowledges geological heritage to be of highest scientific importance to appreciate and sustain its use as an educational resource and to preserve it for the good of society and for our planet’s well-being. The decline of the biosphere, global warming, the sustainability of regional populations, and other global challenges can best be addressed with policies based on scientific knowledge (Zumaia declaration, 28 October 2022). In collaboration with UNESCO’s International Geoscience Program and after the presentation of 200 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, the first 11 Geological Heritage Collections have been presented at the 37th International Geological Congress held in Busan, South Korea, in August 2024. These collections are noteworthy because they contain physical specimens and metadata that are crucial for understanding Earth and the solar system and are of global importance because of their particularly high scientific, historical, and educational relevance. IUGS Geo-collections educate and inspire the public, preserve the record for future generations, and underlie research into our most pressing fields: the origin of water and life on Earth, understanding the history of life, climate change, and the development of new resources, including green technologies. The next goal is the selection of the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Collections.” A call for proposals, evaluation, and designation of new candidates is put forward.
How to cite: Sztein, E., Dominici, S., Harzhauser, M., and Lehnert, K.: The Protection of Geo-collections for Future Generations, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20623, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20623, 2025.
Salma aUGGp is located in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia, and comprises various craters, lava flow, and wadi (fluvial valley). The objective of this study is to assess the geoheritage and geotourism potential of Salma aUGGp. The methodology involves the assessment of geoheritage value and geotourism potential. Volcanic geoheritage of Salma aUGGp classified into crystalline basement of the Neoproterozoic Arabian Shield (AS), Neoproterozoic super-eruptions and their mega-calderas (SC), Early Palaeozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences and Mesozoic siliciclastic successions as part of the Arabian Platform over the Arabian Shields (P), Pleistocene Hutaymah Volcanic Field (HV). The Salma aUGGp is a potential global geotourism destination to study the massive shifting from the volcanic landform to the fluvial, and aeolian landscape. Various historical structures and cultural features enhance the additional value, which provides a unique opportunity to study human adaptation in the various volcanic landscapes. Due to the infrastructure development and community awareness, Salma aUGGp is becoming a model for sustainable development.
How to cite: Sen, S., Turki, H., and Khan, H.: Sustainable Geotourism in Volcanic Geoheritage in Salma aUGGp, Saudi Arabia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14861, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14861, 2025.
The Alto Maceratese Inner Area is a region in the Apennine of central Italy, identified within Italy's National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) as an area facing challenges like depopulation and limited access to essential services, yet rich in natural, cultural, and economic resources. To address these issues, the realisation of an Ecomuseum - an institution that promotes the preservation, interpretation, and enhancement of a territory's natural and cultural heritage, actively involving local communities - has been proposed as a strategic instrument for the sustainable development of the area.
The Ecomuseum is based on the integration of geodiversity and biodiversity with local heritage components and the project is grounded in a comprehensive analysis of the local context to identify the main elements of geological, geomorphological, biological, ecosystem, and cultural interest.
The project is designed around four thematic itineraries: i) Geodiversity and Biodiversity - geological and biological heritage of the region, ii) Waters - geological, ecological, and cultural significance of water resources, iii) Workshops Ideas Knowledge Experiences - links cultural practices to the natural environment, iv) History and Fortresses - history of the region connected to its natural landscape.
The selected elements are organized into three interconnected systems according to importance, aims and accessibility: Centers are the Ecomuseum's main hubs, strategically located along major communication routes, where interactive exhibitions, multimedia installations, and educational programs that promote awareness of geoscience and biodiversity are host. Antennas are situated in each municipality and they act as territorial branches that connect the Centers with local communities and link the territorial elements (satellites); their role is to adapt educational initiatives to the local context, involving residents in guided tours, workshops, and geoscientific events. Satellites are sites or paths, they provide immersive opportunities for visitors and communities to experience the geoheritage and biodiversity aspects of the area, integrating geological data, landscapes and local traditions through thematic trails.
Result of the design process is a structured and comprehensive Ecomuseum model that integrates natural resources into a dynamic and accessible network. Key outcomes include: i) Ecomuseum’s structure which provides a scalable and replicable model for different territories, ii) a place for the development of innovative educational programs where to use interactive technologies to disseminate geoscientific and ecological knowledge, iii) increased public awareness of geological, biological and cultural heritage and iv) new tourism opportunities supporting local communities.
The Ecomuseum project can act as catalyst for the development of local and regional initiatives related to geological and natural heritage, strengthening connections between stakeholders, administrations, universities, and communities. This dynamic framework enhances the area’s appeal, promotes environmental awareness, and fosters sustainable development.
Keywords: Ecomuseum, Geoheritage, Geodiversity, Apennines, Inner Areas
How to cite: Pelliccioni, E., Teloni, R., and Tondi, E.: The Ecomuseum of the Alto Maceratese Inner Area: an Instrument for the Geodiversity and Biodiversity Valorization to Counteract the Depopulation of Central Italy's Apennines, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21700, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21700, 2025.
With heightened awareness of the biodiversity crisis and a changing climate, scientific and policy commentary increasingly calls for taking an integrated approach to the natural world, often referring to both biodiversity and ecosystems. Despite this, a crucial aspect of nature, that of geodiversity, is largely invisible to society today. Outside the geoscientific realm, many engaged with the protection and management of nature consider that abiotic nature is always directly or indirectly factored in, particularly when mention of ecosystems has been made. Practical experience within the Chablais UNESCO Global Geopark, in which areas are recognised by different international and national nature designations, does not support these assumptions. Field experience demonstrates that these generalisations are not only incomplete, having excluded important abiotic features, processes and cycles, but completely overlook the different temporal and spatial scales on which geodiversity operates.
Furthermore, natural heritage protection and outreach approaches often refer in articles or management documents to using a holistic approach when for example, only biodiversity and water, or alternatively only biodiversity and soils, are taken into account. This simplification of the facets of abiotic nature further highlights the low understanding of what constitutes geodiversity, and its significant role in interconnected and interdependent natural world.
Initiatives have been undertaken to build systematic and explicit inclusion of geodiversity into both management actions, as well as outreach and community projects, with the overarching objective of restoring and protecting nature, promoting habitat connectivity and mosaics, and in turn improving climate change resilience.
How to cite: Justice, S.: Disruptive Innovation: Inclusion of Geodiversity for a Truely Holistic Approach to Nature Protection, Management and Outreach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20900, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20900, 2025.
Geodiversity refers to the natural variety of geological, geomorphological, and soil features, including their assemblages, interactions, properties, and systems (Gray, 2004). Since natural environments consist of both abiotic and biotic components, an integrated approach to environmental management that values both geodiversity and biodiversity is essential (Gray, 2008; Crofts, 2014). Abiotic heterogeneity is closely linked to the diversity of the biotic component, influencing spatial resource variability, the distribution benthic habitats and, consequently, biodiversity (e.g., Harris and Baker, 2020; Kaskela et al., 2017; Kaskela and Kotilainen, 2017, 2022, among others).
Despite its importance, marine geodiversity has received limited attention in scientific studies (see Crisp et al., 2021). This research focuses on assessing marine geodiversity at a regional scale in the southern Adriatic Sea and the Gulf of Naples (Italy) calculating the geodiversity index that considers bedrock geology, seabed substrate and geomorphology. The goal is to explore the relationship between geodiversity and biodiversity in the two areas, where benthic habitat distribution studies have been conducted in recent years (Prampolini et al., 2021 and references therein; Taviani et al. 2019; FEAMP-ISSPA, 2022 and references therein).
This work aligns with ongoing pilot studies on biodiversity monitoring and restoration in the Italian Sea as part of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), a project under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) within the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) initiative. The results will be shared through the NBFC Geoportal (http://seamap-explorer.data.ismar.cnr.it:8080/mokaApp/applicazioni/pnrrb) and the Biodiversity Science Gateway.
References
Crisp et al., 2021, doi: 10.1177/0309133320967219
Crofts, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2014.03.002
Gray, 2004, doi: 10.1002/jqs.859
Gray, 2008, doi: 10.1144/SP300.4
Harris and Baker, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814960-7.00060-9
Kaskela and Kotilainen, 2017, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.07.014
Kaskela and Kotilainen, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v52.8317
Kaskela et al., 2017: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2017.05.013
Prampolini et al., 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13152913
Taviani et al. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39655-8
How to cite: Prampolini, M., Castellan, G., Grande, V., and Foglini, F.: Assessing the marine geodiversity of the southern Adriatic Sea and the Gulf of Naples (Italy), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16089, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16089, 2025.
Over the past two centuries, terms like hidden, absent, masked, disappeared, invisible, and missing have described heritage that is no longer visible. These terms apply to both tangible and intangible elements, spanning both natural and cultural domains. Heritage itself represents a huge array of categories, all of which can have hidden aspects. These pieces of heritage may have been hidden due to many reasons, some accidentally, some purposefully erased, others modified, forgotten or destroyed by man or nature or even for some they have always been hidden. The term ‘hidden geoheritage’ has yet to be formally defined which is the focus of my first research paper. The visible and tangible side of geoheritage is well-established, but its hidden yet still tangible dimensions are largely underexplored. Through incorporating perspectives from elsewhere, this concept of hidden heritage is being developed in the context of the concealed coalfield of the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin in Northern France, and the Cross Channel Geopark project, which encapsulates parts of both England and France. Focusing on physical components such as geological formations, industrial structures, institutional and private collections (both geological and documentary). A comprehensive definition of ‘hidden geoheritage’ is being developed and will be presented. Such a definition is necessary to help ensure that in all geodiversity related studies –including regional inventories- just because certain aspects of a region’s geological heritage cannot be seen or visited, it does not mean they do not exist, and hence no survey or assessment can be complete without consideration of the key features that might currently be hidden from public view.
Even though the geoheritage in question is hidden, it still has value for science, tourism and educational purposes. It is important to effectively communicate the hidden geoheritage. Some forms of hidden geoheritage can be reversed. For example, private collections that have since been made accessible, perhaps with the aid of technology to create a digital format and archive or perhaps through a rotation of the collections and specimens on display in the form of exhibitions. Through digitising these hidden collections, researchers around the world can access and study them. However, for many of the institutions that house these collections they remain unseen and unstudied.
In other circumstances, the geoheritage is permanently hidden, perhaps underwater or underground. In these situations, more advanced technology can be used to reveal these geological features, for example through virtual reality or photogrammetry. These methods help to provide a visible component to the hidden geoheritage so that they can be understood better and appreciated. Also, if a visible component has been created then social media can also be utilised to help promote the hidden touristic and educational value of an area. Hidden geoheritage tells the full story of an area's geological evolution and shouldn't be overlooked. Through uncovering and communicating these hidden treasures, we can foster a deeper connection with the natural world and inspire a greater appreciation for the planet’s geological history ensuring it is remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
How to cite: Cieslak-Jones, E., Clausen, S., Page, K., Guyetant, G., and Raevel, V.: Understanding and Communicating Hidden Geoheritage, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-719, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-719, 2025.
The concept of geodiversity has gained increasing recognition since its introduction in the 1990s. Unfortunately its assessment remains a challenge due to the lack of a well-defined methodological framework. Geodiversity assessment plays a crucial role in understanding and managing abiotic nature, influencing geoconservation, spatial planning, and geosystem services. While various approaches to geodiversity assessment have been proposed, there is a need for a systematic and updated classification of these methods. This poster presents an updated classification of geodiversity assessment methods, based on the framework originally published by Zwoliński et al. (2018). The revised framework addresses key methodological challenges, such as scale dependency, subjectivity in assessment, and interoperability of geospatial data.
The literature review highlights the increasing importance of qualitative-quantitative methods that integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools at different stages of data collection, processing, and visualization. . Additionally, the application of computational ontologies has facilitated a more standardised representation of geodiversity data, improving interoperability across disciplines. There is a noticeable increase in the number of publications related to geodiversity assessments or its individual components as predictors of biodiversity, an area of research expected to expand further with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques. Despite these advances, validation remains one of the major unresolved challenges, particularly in large-scale assessments. Emerging methodologies such as Participatory Public GIS (PPGIS) and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) have introduced promising solutions, allowing for crowdsourced data collection and verification. These approaches enable broader spatial coverage and provide a cost-effective means of assessing geodiversity in remote or extensive areas.
By refining and modernising the classification of geodiversity assessment methods, this study contributes to a more consistent and applicable evaluation framework. The proposed methodological advancements have significant implications for geoconservation strategies, sustainable spatial planning, and risk management. As geodiversity gains greater recognition within scientific and policy-making communities, the development of standardised and validated assessment techniques will be essential in promoting its role in environmental management and geoscience research.
Zwoliński, Zb., Najwer, A., Giardino, M., 2018. Methods for assessing geodiversity. In: Reynard, E., Brilha, J., (Eds.), Geoheritage: Assessment, Protection, and Management. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809531-7.00002-2.
How to cite: Zwoliński, Z., Najwer, A., and Giardino, M.: Geodiversity Assessment Methods: An Updated Framework, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18324, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18324, 2025.
Geoconservation and geoheritage are increasingly important topics within the scientific community. Since the 1990s, numerous studies on geosites have focused primarily on their identification, classification, and evaluation. However, the assessment of degradation risks associated with these geosites remains relatively underexplored, despite its critical importance for effective management and conservation. Geoheritage is continuously threatened by both natural and human-induced factors. In many countries, the absence of systematic inventories, inadequate management, and the impacts of climate change have placed geosites at risk of deterioration or complete loss. Therefore, developing assessment procedures to evaluate degradation risks and monitor conservation status is a priority for researchers. It is essential to recognize that existing methodologies for identifying and mitigating geoheritage degradation risks often lack common frameworks, approaches, and terminologies.
This paper aims to establish a foundation for assessing the degradation risks of geosites by outlining shared investigation schemes, identifying current research gaps, and highlighting potential areas for improvement. We analyzed the evolution of geoconservation studies over the past 20 years, particularly focusing on geoheritage degradation risks, and conducted the first systematic literature review on degradation risk and its related concepts. Our investigations involved a thorough search of major literature databases, which yielded 295 relevant records, subsequently narrowed down to 130 through a rigorous screening process. This study provided an in-depth understanding of the various methodologies and frameworks used to assess the risk of geoheritage degradation. This analysis was crucial for exploring both established and novel methodologies, offering a comprehensive overview of current practices and highlighting potential advancements in the field.
Keywords: degradation risk, geoheritage, geoconservation, geosite management
How to cite: Vandelli, V., Selmi, L., Faccini, F., Ferrando, A., and Coratza, P.: A Comprehensive Framework for the Assessment of Geoheritage Degradation Risk, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3608, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3608, 2025.
The Island of Malta is characterized by a great variety of landscapes and landforms, including a wide range of features with great geological and geomorphological interest. The inventory and assessment of geosites can contribute to the preservation, protection, and promotion of this rich geodiversity. Furthermore, geosites hold considerable potential to attract geotourists, thereby contributing to local economic development. Tourism direct contribution to national GDP is one the highest among European countries, thus tourism plays for the Maltese Islands. Despite this, geotourism remains an underexplored resource, yet it has the potential to play a significant role in the local economy. This study aims to highlight the role of geoheritage and geotourism as resources for advancing sustainable tourism and geoconservation in the southern sector of Malta. This area presents significant opportunities for geotourism development. The study involved the inventory and quantitative assessment of potential geosites using widely recognized methodologies tailored to the local context. The analysis identified 18 potential geosites that can be recognized as both part of the Maltese natural heritage and tourist resources. Among these, four key geosites were identified as priorities for inclusion in a potential geotourism route, which also integrates nearby cultural heritage features. Additionally, the assessment methodology — applied for the first time in the investigated area — has proven to be a valuable support for geosite identification and can be extended to other Maltese sectors.
How to cite: Furlani, S., Possenelli, M., Gauci, R., Devoto, S., Selmi, L., Coratza, P., and Vandelli, V.: Geosite inventory and quantitative assessment in southern Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11859, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11859, 2025.
Last several decades, several geoparks developed worldwide and are recognized by UNESCO. North Riyadh aUGGp is located in the northern part of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia; comprises various key landforms like cuesta, wadi, escarpment, and Jurassic fossil which can be visible in 20 geosites. This is a pioneering approach to assess the Geoheritage value of this geopark. The objective of this paper is to unveil the geosite characteristics, and their potential for geotourism development. Geoheritage and tourism potential is assessed through the scientific, educational, and tourism potential. North Riyadh aUGGp provides an opportunity to study the landform evolution in the central part of Saudi Arabia from the marine to the terrestrial environment. Therefore, North Riyadh aUGGp comprises various coral and Jurassic fossils. The formation of the cuesta structure indicates the massive tectonic activity host and graben topography dissected by fluvial channels. National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification and the local community have taken various conservation measures for the protection of the various geosites with high scientific, educational, and touristic value.
Keywords: geopark, geoheritage, geotourism, colluvial coral, cuesta, escarpment
How to cite: Turki, H., Sen, S., and Khan, H.: Geoheritage Assessment of the North Riyadh aUGGP, Saudi Arabia: linking Geotourism, and Sustainable Development, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15032, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15032, 2025.
Geodiversity refers to the variety of geological features, including rocks, minerals, fossils, landforms, and soils, that shape our planet. Geosites are tangible examples of geodiversity, often selected for their scientific, educational, or cultural value. However, the lack of proper management of geosites can lead to the degradation of geodiversity, with serious consequences such as the loss of geological heritage, imbalance of ecosystems, weakened climate resilience, etc. Therefore, effective management and proper protection are crucial to ensure the conservation of both geodiversity as well as the local geoheritage, safeguarding these natural resources. However, it is not easy to disseminate updated geoscientific knowledge and thus the importance and conservation of geodiversity and geoheritage. A major challenge for researchers is the limited acceptance of scientific information by the public, many of whom feel disconnected from science and, therefore, from scientific knowledge.
Our study emphasizes participatory research and co-creation to promote inclusivity in science, aiming to enhance societal understanding and appreciation of geosite protection and management. We focus on the Belvedere Glacier, a debris-covered alpine glacier in the Anzasca Valley, located at the base of the east face of Monte Rosa (Western Italian Alps). The Macugnaga area is well known for its winter skiing, and the Belvedere Glacier is significant for its dynamic activity, which has directly impacted the ski runs and indirectly the village of Macugnaga. As a first step, we developed a systematic and robust inventory of Belvedere Glacier using a geosite inventory form designed by our team. To integrate local perspectives, we conduct surveys among ski tourists and the local community, along with interviews with local administrative leaders and tour guides, to assess their awareness of the geological features, landscapes, and natural processes in the area. Using the M-GAM framework, we systematically evaluate the geosite and subsequently design an updated geotrail at the glacier to promote geotourism in the changing environmental condition, highlighting the region’s geology and the need to protect and manage the local geodiversity. So, this study enhances societal recognition of the importance of protecting geodiversity, thereby promoting awareness of the sustainable use of geological resources through geoscience education.
How to cite: Shajahan, R., Giardino, M., Magagna, A., Tema, E., and Zanella, E.: Promoting Geodiversity Conservation through Co-Creation Approaches: A Case Study of the Belvedere Glacier of Western Italian Alps, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8536, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8536, 2025.
The Gaspar Grande Cave is the only cave in Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean that is adapted to safely host visitors, making it a unique natural phenomenon to the country. Located 12km west of Port of Spain, the Gaspar Grande Cave is known for its aesthetic, scientific and historical value amongst local and international visitors, as guided tours are used to highlight its geological features. The cave contains a variety of geological formations, notably, speleothems, skylights and a cave pool. These geological features not only represent invaluable geological heritage but also serve as crucial records of the region’s climatic and environmental history. These geological formations face serious conservation challenges due to factors such as vandalism, natural erosion, anthropogenic pressure and climate change.
The Gaspar Grande Cave is composed of Lower Cretaceous limestone, that is undergoing degradation due to intrusion of saltwater into the cave and dissolution of the cave roof through precipitation. The cave has skylights and several sinkholes in close proximity to the cave that highlight the delicate balance due to infrastructure construction, unsupervised human activity and climate change.
To address some of these challenges the cave managed by the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) and the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago have introduced several conservation actions. These include restrictive access measures to the cave to minimize direct human intervention and the creation of controlled pathways to protect the most vulnerable zones. Additionally, to improve on emphasizing the importance of geoheritage and geoconservation to locals and tourists we propose conducting a validated questionnaire to CDA tour visitors over the age of 18. This study will investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices towards geoheritage, geoconservation and geology at the Gaspar Grande Cave. Outcomes of which are well positioned to make significant contributions to UNESCO’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). Findings here may promote economic growth (SDG 1 and 8) and sustainability (SDG 11 and 15) as well as improve quality of education amongst visitors (SDG 4).
Alongside this, we have put forth future studies to incorporate scientific characterization of geological formations within the cave utilizing advanced technologies such as, electrical resistivity tomography and proxy-driven paleoclimate research (SDG 13).
Together, these actions aim to preserve the geological formations, and also promote a sustainable visitor model that values geoheritage and geoconservation of the Gaspar Grande Cave. This abstract integrates the issues and conservation strategies for the Gaspar Grande Cave, highlighting the geoheritage and geoconservation, and the outcomes for its preservation.
Keywords: Gaspar Grande Cave, geoconservation, geoheritage, sustainability, Trinidad
How to cite: Carr, C. and Baboolal, A.: Geoheritage and Geoconservation Strategies at the Gaspar Grande Cave, North-Western Trinidad, West Indies, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7151, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7151, 2025.
Beneath the surface of the Earth lies some of the world's rarest, most endangered, and least protected species. Despite their critical importance, cave-dwelling animals are often neglected in major conservation policies. These species exhibit high levels of endemism and represent a unique natural heritage, while simultaneously providing vital ecosystem services, including roles in carbon and nutrient cycling. However, even in their isolated underground habitats, these organisms face significant threats from pollution and environmental changes.
In the karst region of the Algarve (Barrocal), a single cave has been identified as a global hotspot for subterranean biodiversity. Designated as a geosite by the aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark Algarvensis, this cave boasts an extraordinary concentration of endemic species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. As a unique natural site in Portugal, it is under acute threat from urbanization and surface area degradation, making its protection a critical priority.
This urgent situation has spurred the Barrocal-Cave project, a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at studying, protecting, and restoring this exceptional site. The project’s goal is to generate essential scientific knowledge to guide conservation efforts and establish a framework for its ecological assessment and long-term sustainability. Preliminary findings reveal that the cave atmosphere presents extreme stratification of oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, with values potentially lethal at certain depths. Furthermore, the cave hosts a remarkably diverse community of more than 25 cave-adapted arthropod species, displaying notable seasonal variation.
As part of the ongoing work, the Barrocal-Cave project is pioneering the establishment of the first Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) station in a cave environment in Western Europe while SAMEPA project is acessing past environmental changes through stalagmite studies. This effort provides the foundation for a formal conservation proposal, developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Loulé, to create a legal framework that ensures the protection and sustainable management of this exceptional cave ecosystem. By addressing the threats and challenges faced by this geosite, the project contributes vital insights to the broader field of subterranean biodiversity conservation.
This work is supported by Prémio Belmiro de Azevedo-FCT (2023.10009.PRIZE) and by Portuguese National Funds through “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT) within SAMEPA Project PTDC/CTA-GEO/0125/2021 SAMEPA and the cE3c and CIMA/ARNET Units’ fundings UIDB/00329/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/00329/2020), UIDP/00350/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/00350/2020 ) and LA/P/0069/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0069/2020).
How to cite: Veiga-Pires, C., Calado, G., Oliveira, M. A., Gavryliak, V., Domingues, I., Bodawatta, K., Rinnan, R., Roslund, K., Pereira, A., Font, E., and Reboleira, A. S. P. S.: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Conservation and Monitoring of a Unique Cave Geosite: Portugal's World-Class Biodiversity Hotspot, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18997, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18997, 2025.
The term geoheritage, or geological heritage, represents a group of exceptional geological elements and processes of geodiversity. In this respect, “The Dolomites” UNESCO World Heritage Site (northern Italy), consists of a serial property of nine areas characterized by mountain landscape, which is of considerable natural beauty and high geodiversity. Specifically, the highly variety of carbonate rocks and the superbly exposed geology are extraordinary when considered on a global scale. Pinnacles, rock walls, karst systems, glacial landforms and processes as avalanches, floods and landslides are some examples of the wide geomorphological features typical of this site. Moreover, a distinctive characteristic of the Dolomites is represented by the preservation of the original Mesozoic carbonate platform depositional systems.
Therefore, in order to preserve all the unique characteristics of these spectacular mountains, an unbiased inventory of the prominent values and features characterizing all the sites which are included in the property, is needed. Thus, for the Dolomites, a geodatabase have been developed. It includes a list of scored values such as representativeness, rarity, accessibility, scientific publications etc. and stratigraphical, sedimentological, paleontological, volcanic, structural, geomorphological features, to obtain, for each site belonging to the main property, a final scientific value and a geodiversity index.
The database goal is, therefore, to obtain the best conservation status for this “high-altitude field laboratory” and promote the uniqueness of this extraordinary mountains, so much loved and visited by tourists from all over the world.
How to cite: Morabito, C., Caggiati, M., and Gianolla, P.: Preserving the Geological Heritage of “The Dolomites” UNESCO WHS: a Geodatabase approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9724, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9724, 2025.
Geoheritage and tourism can converge in promoting an appreciation for the genius loci of a territory, but they often conflict when landscapes are reshaped according to the market-driven logic of modern tourism. This is particularly evident in toponymy, where place names are frequently altered to align with popular tourist attractions, such as media products or events. Such practices threaten the preservation of territorial identity, especially in natural areas, by erasing the historical narratives embedded in the environment. Our case study focused on the island of Asinara (Sardinia, Italy), a national park and protected area. The island is characterized by seasonal tourism that often overlooks the deep interconnection between anthropogenic and natural elements. Through an integrated approach that combines cartography and geo-historical analysis, it was explored how place names can serve as repositories of the historical relationship between humans and the environment. Toponyms associated with local flora, fauna, historical events, and human activities were geolocated and analyzed, with particular attention to their interpretation through the Sardinian language. This method provided insights into the multidimensional identity of the territory, encompassing its temporal and spatial dimensions, and moves beyond an anthropocentric perspective. Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of employing toponymy and geoheritage in the development of conscious and sustainable tourism strategies. By leveraging authentic storytelling rooted in the historical and cultural essence of the territory, such approaches could effectively promote the area while preserving its identity and fostering a deeper connection between visitors and the landscape.
How to cite: Malvica, S., Congiatu, P. P., Andra-Toparceanu, A., Popovici, D.-A., Ovreiu, B., and Carboni, D.: Preserving Identity Through Toponymy: Geoheritage as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism on Asinara Island, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18752, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18752, 2025.
Granadilla de Abona is located in the south of the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), occupies an area of 162 km2 and extends from more than 2500 metres above sea level to the coast in the form of a ramp with medium slopes. The municipality has a great geodiversity associated with both volcanic and non-volcanic geoforms and geological belongs to the so-called Banda del Sur Formation. The main aims of this work are to inventory the geodiversity of the municipality; to identify, select, and characterize sites of geotouristic interest (SGIs) and elaborated different georoutes in natural and urban areas. The methodology used included bibliographic and cartographic review (topographical, geological, geomorphological, and historical), observation of orthophotos and aerial photographs, and field work. The main geodiversity is associated with volcanic geoforms are associated with different types of volcanism (mafic and salic) with various dynamic eruptions: magmatic, freatomagmatic, hawaiiam, strombolian or subplinian eruptions. The main eruptive geoforms are cinder or scoria cones, tuff cones, lava fields (aa, pahoehoe and blocks), lava delta, lava dome, fonolitic lavas or pumice deposits. Non-volcanic geoforms are associated with the presence of ravines, cliffs, volcanic sand beaches, dunes and others. A total of 20 SGIs have been identified, for which an on-site assessment has been conducted, along with the collection of a large amount of information regarding geological, geomorphological, protective, cultural, and historical aspects. All SGIs are representative of the geo-diversity and geoheritage of the municipality, are preserved and accessible. The enhancement of these SGIs will further strengthen the geotourism interest of the Granadilla de Abona, allowing the relevant tourism authorities to diversify their leisure offerings and promote the geoconservation and the geotourism according with the principles of sustainability, innovation, and accessibility promoted by the World Tourism Organization, for example, through the creation of georoutes in natural and urban spaces.
This project has been promoted by the Plataforma Defensabona, a citizens' initiative dedicated to protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, and the Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN). The project is funded by the Granadilla de Abona Town Council.
How to cite: Leal Moreno, V. J., Dóniz-Páez, J., Pérez, N. M., Hernández, P. A., Afonso, D., de los Ríos, H., and Álvarez Delgado, M. I.: Geotourism development in large-scale volcanic areas: A Case Study of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Canary Islands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17339, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17339, 2025.
The National Blue Trail of Hungary was the first long-distance hiking trail in Europe. Its trail was first waymarked in 1938. Since then – with moderate modifications – it has operated continuously and attracts thousands of hikers from all around the continent.
The route of the National Blue Trail passes through the most diverse geological and relief areas of Hungary, where the stones that lie in our path tell the story of millions of years from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic. A blue hiker unfamiliar with geology will walk past many geoscientific (geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil) features that they think are mute. However, rocks tell stories of ancient marine sediments and wildlife, devastating volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or even the transformations and deformations of rocks buried under mountains.
Geotourist maps serve as essential tools in promoting sustainable tourism by highlighting natural and cultural geosites, aligning with the principles of geotourism that emphasise conservation, education, and community involvement (Hose, 1995). These maps play a pivotal role in interpreting geological heritage for non-specialist audiences, transforming complex scientific information into accessible narratives. By integrating cartographic design and geoscientific data, geotourist maps facilitate the spatial visualisation of geodiversity, enhancing visitors' understanding and appreciation of the Earth's dynamic history (Reynard, 2007; Albert & Pál, 2022).
The GeoBlueTrail book (Veres, 2024) aimed to present the geological values of the almost 1200 km route in a professionally authentic and readable way. Complementing the author's photos, 11 maps also were published for all 11 landscape unit-based chapters. They present basic geological information, the location of the most interesting geosites, and geo-related cultural objects to the hikers.
Our work is to present the editing steps and use cases of this special middle-scale geotourist map series. The generalisation of the 1:100 000 geological content, reaching balance with all other topographic content and selecting the geosites to be presented were all the tasks of the authors. The result is 11 separate maps at the beginning of every landscape chapter. They provide the non-scientist reader with an overview of the country's hundreds of millions of years of history and the most spectacular abiotic sights of the hiking trail they chose to walk over.
Albert, G., & Pál, M. (2022). Geological maps for geotourism in Hungary. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EGU22-2018).
Hose, T. A. (1995). Selling the Story of Britain's stone. Environmental Interpretation, 10 (2), 16-17, in: Hose, TA,(2006). Geotourism and interpretation", in: Dowling RK and Newsome D.(eds)(2006), Geotourism. Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 221.
Reynard, E., Fontana, G., Kozlik, L., & Scapozza, C. (2007). A method for assessing" scientific" and" additional values" of geomorphosites. Geographica Helvetica, 62(3), 148-158.
Veres, Zs. (2024). Geokéktúra – Az Országos Kéktúra földtudományi értékei (GeoBlueTrail – the geoscientific values of the National Blue Trail). GeoLitera Publishing House, Szeged, Hungary. ISBN: 978 963 306 988 2.
How to cite: Pál, M. and Veres, Z.: Geotourist maps for hikers, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4757, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4757, 2025.
Geoheritage is increasingly recognized and geoparks become widespread. Greece, for example, counts to-date nine geoparks, part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (GGN). Here, we focus on the Vikos canyon, part of the Vikos–Aoos UNESCO GGN, that is located in the Pindus mountain range of Northwestern Greece. In proportion to its width, Vikos canyon is considered among the deepest canyons in the world. This region, part of the Natura 2000 European network of protected areas, is characterized by significant biodiversity and includes landscapes of critical importance for both ecological diversity and recreational activities. Taking advantage of the continuously increasing geospatial observations, including topographic and environmental conditions (e.g., terrain, land cover, soil properties, climatic conditions, etc.) as well as demographic attributes, we present creative ways for visualizing and jointly exploring this data in order to highlight the unique features of the canyon and contribute towards raising awareness on critical environmental issues. The approach deployed here includes not only 2-D visualizations, but also 3-D printing technology and interactive web mapping (e.g., story maps). The abovementioned tools can help knowledge mobilization on the unique geological and ecological features of the Vikos-Aoos geopark and contribute to conservation efforts of the area, fostering scientific research and global awareness.
How to cite: Georgoutsou, K. F. and Pappas, C.: A Geoinformatics Hike Over the Vikos Canyon in Northwestern Greece, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16807, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16807, 2025.
Nowadays, geotourism is an increasingly widespread concept in the field of tourism. This new type of activity allows visitors to deepen their knowledge of geosciences while visiting inanimate sites of geological value, that are also spectacular and unique. Geotourism and the corresponding activities are present in geoparks, national parks, and nature reserves. These institutions aim to conserve nature while promoting geoscientific knowledge among visitors. These ‘duties’ are complemented by modern research linked to the scientific values in geopark areas.
In parallel with the development of scientific methods and equipment, this can be combined with various disciplines. Our research utilises the newest remote sensing approaches in earth heritage conservation. We used a spectrometer to collect data in the Bakony–Balaton UGGp at different geosites – these have been chosen based on local geosite assessment studies. This technique involves an unharmful investigation of various geological formations and draws the spectral image of each geosite. After processing the datasets, we could compare the different or even similar geological structures or geosites in different areas. For example, these questions can be answered using spectral remote sensing data: are the spectral footprints of geyser cones on the same rock certainly the same? If not, how much do the proportions of the components differ? Do the similar rock types in different areas have the same spectral properties?
Using this method and the results of the processed data, it will later be possible to define the specific factors that can be used to distinguish these sites from each other - emphasising the unique geological characteristics of each geosite.
In the latter phase, the research will also investigate whether there are specific parts of each site where separate recordings should be done. This may be necessary due to the different extents and shapes of geosites. Thus, comparisons can be made both between and within geosites.
„Supported by the EKÖP-24 University Excellence Scholarship Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.”
How to cite: Hajdú, E., Pál, M., and Jung, A.: Founding the geosite spectral library of the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-858, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-858, 2025.
In recent years, the scientific community has increasingly recognized landslides as significant elements of geoheritage. According to Morino et al. (2022), landslides can be considered as invaluable geomorphosites as they: (i) bear witness of the effects of climate change on landscapes, (ii) reflect the anthropic signature by being impacted by and impacting human activities, and (iii) exemplify the risks due to natural hazards. Therefore, landslides can serve as effective tools for education, fostering awareness of sustainable land use, risk management, and sensitizing on the consequences of climate changes, promoting community resilience and adaptive strategies.
The Gaiato landslide, located in the Scoltenna valley (Northern Apennines) is an intermittent, slow-moving mass movement primarily affecting clayey terrains overlain by sandstones within a complex structural setting characterized by lithologies with contrasting geomechanical behaviors. Its activity is linked to climate oscillations of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, aligning with temporal patterns observed across the Northern Apennines (Soldati et al. 2006). Since the Lateglacial, the Gaiato landslide has repeatedly interacted with fluvial morphodynamics, notably the Scoltenna stream, at times damming its course. Historical records document its impact on local communities, such as the destruction of the old Gaiato church in the early 1700s. Additionally, a medieval tower, which represents a significant landmark embodying the local cultural identity, is at risk as a result of the landslide crown retrogression.
The Gaiato landslide can be considered as a prime example of geoheritage. This complex and extensive mass movement exemplifies the interplay of geological-geomorphological, climatic, and anthropic factors, making it suitable for geotourism and education purposes. The timing and mode of the landslide activity also provide a valuable record for paleoclimatic reconstructions. Beyond its scientific significance, the landslide serves as a means to make communities aware of landslide hazard and possible management strategies.
To promote the Gaiato landslide as an invaluable part of geoheritage, a virtual field trip has been developed. This innovative tool includes interactive maps, 3D terrain models, and historical documents to explore the geomorphological and cultural significance of the site. Visitors can virtually traverse the landslide features, examine its dynamics, and increase their awareness of landslide hazard and related implications.
The Gaiato landslide offers a unique opportunity to integrate geomorphology, history, and geoeducation. By showcasing its features through a virtual field trip, this initiative promotes the perception of landslides as elements of geoheritage, highlighting their scientific, cultural, and educational value.
Keywords: landslide hazard, geoheritage, climate reconstruction, anthropic signature, virtual field trip.
References
Morino, C., Coratza, P., Soldati, M., (2022). Landslides, a key landform in the global geological heritage. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 1-20.
Soldati, M., Borgatti, L., Cavallin, A., De Amicis, M., Frigerio, S., Giardino, M., Mortara, G., Pellegrini, G. B., Ravazzi, C., Surian, N., Tellini, C., Zanchi, A. (2006). Geomorphological evolution of slopes and climate changes in Northern Italy during the Late Quaternary: spatial and temporal distribution of landslides and landscape sensitivity implications. Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria, 29(2), 165-183.
How to cite: Soldati, M. and Vandelli, V.: Can a hazardous landslide be a geoheritage site? A case study from the Modena Apennines (Northern Italy), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13124, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13124, 2025.
