Global drivers impact on Geodiversity and Geosystem services in Alagna Valsesia (N-W Alps, Italy). Mapping and assessment for a sustainable development perspective

• Main Authors: Guerini, Michele, Khoso, Rasool Bux, Mantovani, Alizia, Giardino, Marco
• Other Authors: Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry ), Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne (EDYTEM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Università degli studi di Torino = University of Turin (UNITO), Università La Sapienza di Roma
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Geosites; Geodiversity; Geosystem Services; Sustainable Development; [SDU.STU.GM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geomorphology; permafrost
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04292302; https://hal.science/hal-04292302/document; https://hal.science/hal-04292302/file/Poster.pdf

International audience Over the last century, human activities and global drivers of change have added disequilibrium factors to the natural hazards occurring in mountain regions, deeply affecting them by resulting in huge alterations in the balance of these environments. One of the most visible effects of rising temperatures is the melting of glaciers, with a trend towards thinning and retreat of glacier fronts, leading to a change in pressure on contiguous slopes, and increasing their instability, thus proving to be a trigger for mass movements. Other evident effects are related to permafrost degradation and the growth of erosion in previously glaciated areas. These changes have an impact on increasing of natural hazards and in causing loss of geodiversity and ecosystem services, thus demanding the need to develop new conservation strategies to support mountain regions taking care of geoheritage protection. To better investigate how climate change and human activity impacts affect the geoheritage and the benefits that geodiversity provide to society we focused on Alagna Valsesia municipality, the highest elevation area of the Sesia Val Grande UGGp. Here we collected and examined available data in a GIS environment to map the geodiversity in the study area, recognize the geosites and assess them to understand the value of the present geoheritage. Geodiversity map has been used to evaluate and identify the ecosystem services. Regulating, provisioning, knowledge, cultural, and supporting services have been identified, with a broad view on evolutionary scenarios of human-nature interactions. Evaluation of global drivers of change allow us to understand the impact of the changes on services, and DPSIR approach, linked to geosystem services, led us to address the need of a strong planning and management strategies for the Sesia Val Grande UGGp and for sustainable development of human exploited and naturally vulnerable mountain regions, considering actions to promote geotourism. This approach provides the basis for ...