New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)

Geoheritage is an important resource for modern society, and the inventory of geosites is an increasingly crucial element to encourage geoconservation actions and foster the sustainable development of an area. The present paper offers an analysis aimed at assessing 25 potential geosites in Alagna V...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michele Guerini, Arianna Negri, Alizia Mantovani, Marco Giardino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2025-05-01
Series:Geoconservation Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oiccpress.com/gcr/article/view/16845
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850141579251023872
author Michele Guerini
Arianna Negri
Alizia Mantovani
Marco Giardino
author_facet Michele Guerini
Arianna Negri
Alizia Mantovani
Marco Giardino
author_sort Michele Guerini
collection DOAJ
description Geoheritage is an important resource for modern society, and the inventory of geosites is an increasingly crucial element to encourage geoconservation actions and foster the sustainable development of an area. The present paper offers an analysis aimed at assessing 25 potential geosites in Alagna Valsesia, an alpine area within the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (NW Italy), both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative assessment was performed using a descriptive form created for a project to catalog the geosites of the Piemonte Region, focusing on the scientific, aesthetic, conservation, and tourism relevance of the geoheritage elements. Statistical analysis of the new inventory, using both qualitative and quantitative assessments, has enabled a more detailed classification of the geosites and an understanding of benefits and limitations of both methodologies. We find that for a comprehensive territorial strategy, the qualitative and quantitative methods are complementary. The qualitative approach aids geoconservation with detailed geosite descriptions, benefiting spatial managers and geoparks, and the quantitative method enables objective comparisons, supporting regional geotourism development.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ee6ac15916c433db123f09e6fcec3bb
institution OA Journals
issn 2645-4661
2588-7343
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher OICC Press
record_format Article
series Geoconservation Research
spelling doaj-art-2ee6ac15916c433db123f09e6fcec3bb2025-08-20T02:29:23ZengOICC PressGeoconservation Research2645-46612588-73432025-05-0110.57647/j.gcr.2025.0801.05New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)Michele Guerini0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7893-2655Arianna Negri1Alizia Mantovani2Marco Giardino3EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 5 Bd de la Mer Caspienne, 73370 Le Bourget-du-Lac, France  AND  Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso, 35 10125 Torino, ItalyEarth Sciences Department, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso, 35 10125 Torino, ItalyIGG-CNR, Torino Secondary Headquarters, Via Valperga Caluso, 35 10125 Torino, ItalyEarth Sciences Department, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso, 35 10125 Torino, Italy Geoheritage is an important resource for modern society, and the inventory of geosites is an increasingly crucial element to encourage geoconservation actions and foster the sustainable development of an area. The present paper offers an analysis aimed at assessing 25 potential geosites in Alagna Valsesia, an alpine area within the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (NW Italy), both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative assessment was performed using a descriptive form created for a project to catalog the geosites of the Piemonte Region, focusing on the scientific, aesthetic, conservation, and tourism relevance of the geoheritage elements. Statistical analysis of the new inventory, using both qualitative and quantitative assessments, has enabled a more detailed classification of the geosites and an understanding of benefits and limitations of both methodologies. We find that for a comprehensive territorial strategy, the qualitative and quantitative methods are complementary. The qualitative approach aids geoconservation with detailed geosite descriptions, benefiting spatial managers and geoparks, and the quantitative method enables objective comparisons, supporting regional geotourism development. https://oiccpress.com/gcr/article/view/16845GeoheritageItalian geoparksEnvironmental managementGeotourismAlpsMountain geodiversity
spellingShingle Michele Guerini
Arianna Negri
Alizia Mantovani
Marco Giardino
New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
Geoconservation Research
Geoheritage
Italian geoparks
Environmental management
Geotourism
Alps
Mountain geodiversity
title New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
title_full New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
title_fullStr New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
title_full_unstemmed New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
title_short New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)
title_sort new geosites inventory for geoconservation and geotourism improvement in alagna valsesia sesia val grande unesco global geopark italy
topic Geoheritage
Italian geoparks
Environmental management
Geotourism
Alps
Mountain geodiversity
url https://oiccpress.com/gcr/article/view/16845
work_keys_str_mv AT micheleguerini newgeositesinventoryforgeoconservationandgeotourismimprovementinalagnavalsesiasesiavalgrandeunescoglobalgeoparkitaly
AT ariannanegri newgeositesinventoryforgeoconservationandgeotourismimprovementinalagnavalsesiasesiavalgrandeunescoglobalgeoparkitaly
AT aliziamantovani newgeositesinventoryforgeoconservationandgeotourismimprovementinalagnavalsesiasesiavalgrandeunescoglobalgeoparkitaly
AT marcogiardino newgeositesinventoryforgeoconservationandgeotourismimprovementinalagnavalsesiasesiavalgrandeunescoglobalgeoparkitaly