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Article

Sustainable Geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A Tool for Enhancing Alpine Geoheritage in the Context of Climate Change

by
Arianna Negri
1,*,
Elena Storta
1,
Rasool Bux Khoso
1,
Agnese Maria Colizzi
1,
Fiorella Acquaotta
1,
Mauro Palomba
2 and
Marco Giardino
1
1
Earth Sciences Department, University of Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy
2
GeoDidaLab, Earth Sciences Department, University of Torino, Via Lago San Michele 15, 10015 Ivrea, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Geosciences 2024, 14(7), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175
Submission received: 20 May 2024 / Revised: 17 June 2024 / Accepted: 19 June 2024 / Published: 24 June 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geoheritage as A Tool to Increase Awareness about Past and Present Climate Change)
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Abstract

:
The Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps) is a key area for both the history of the alpine orogeny and its environmental context. It presents major structural features (including the Traversella neoalpine intrusion and a section of the Insubric line) and evidence of past climate changes in the region. Even if the Chiusella Valley was previously renowned for mining activities and most recently considered an alpine rural area with minor tourist attractions, its important geoheritage could offer alternatives to traditional mountain activities, which are facing adversity from increasing temperatures. This paper emphasises the role of geotourism in both enhancing sustainable development and raising awareness of climate change. For this purpose, the geodiversity of the Chiusella Valley has been analysed and several geosites have been identified. The research methodology includes field surveys, analysis of an existing educational activities and scientific literature, and assessment of geosites by quantitative analysis of five groups of indicators, including scientific, cultural, and educational values. The geosite selection within the Chiusella Valley reveals memories of past and present climate changes but also supports the development of targeted geotourism activities in the area. Additionally, a specific location has been identified for hosting indoor activities showcasing climate change action. These valuable contributions to sustainable geotourism provide opportunities for exploring the Alps in the vicinity of the Po Plain urban areas, while minimizing the environmental impact and facilitating educational activities on geodiversity and geoheritage.

1. Introduction

In recent years, the term “geodiversity” has emerged to describe the “variety of the abiotic world” (complementary to biodiversity, which refers to the “variety of the biotic world”) due to growing concern for the geological aspects [1,2]. According to [3], the most widely accepted definition of geodiversity is provided by [4], as “the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil, and hydrological features. It includes their assemblages, structures, systems, and contributions to landscapes”. The growing interest for the Earth sciences among both experts and the general public has given rise to the notion of “geoheritage”. This term encompasses natural geodiversity features that hold significant value for humans without reducing their intrinsic or ecological values [5]. According to various authors [6,7], the sites which preserve the fundamental elements of the geoheritage and have a scientific value are called geosites. In a broader context, the term geosite indicates all the geological objects and places which have cultural, historical, scientific, aesthetic, and economical value [8].
According to this broader view of geosites, geodiversity can provide resources and services to human societies, known as geosystem services (GSs). The idea of GSs originates in the late 20th century, after the development of the ecosystem services (ESs) concept, or the discovery of “the benefits people obtain from ecosystems” [9]. The word “ecosystem” implies an interaction between abiotic and biotic worlds, but the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) framework focuses only on the biotic aspects of the ecosystem. Because of this gap in the classification and the lack of description of the abiotic part of the ecosystems, various attempts at classifying the geosystem services have been made. The most accepted classification is provided by [10], then improved on by [11], both of which maintain the MEA’s four categories for the ES; (i) regulation, (ii) support, (iii) provision, and (iv) cultural. To these, they added a fifth category; (v) knowledge, with a total of twenty-five types of geosystem services (Figure 1).
In the broader context of the term, some “geosites” are locations of scientific interest where tourist activities could be developed. This implies that these sites are important elements of geodiversity, which encompass the variety of geological features and processes that shape our natural world. Geosites provide valuable geosystem services by allowing for scientific research, education, and tourism, thereby enhancing our understanding and appreciation of Earth’s geological heritage. Mainly, those offering a tourist service can be interpreted as “geotourism and leisure activities” and classified as cultural services.
Geotourism is a new branch of tourism related to geodiversity, with its origin at the end of the 20th century [12], and it has been developed in the last two decades; today, the most accepted definition of geotourism is “a form of natural area tourism that specifically focuses on geology and landscape. It promotes tourism to geosites and the conservation of geodiversity and an understanding of Earth sciences through appreciation and learning” [13].
As suggested by Reynard et al. (2003) [14], it is important to analyse the relationship between geomorphology and geotourism in different ways. According to the authors [14], in fact, geomorphology can be considered as the primary (or original) offer, being a crucial element of landscapes that can provide opportunities for touristic development, changing with the morphology, politics, or economy of the area, but also with the evolving tourism demand. It can also be considered as the secondary (or derived) offer, in which a variety of tools or services are proposed for enhancing the original offer. However, it is of fundamental importance to take into consideration the changes that geomorphological processes may create (hazards or risks) and, at the same time, the impact of having tourists in the area, if not properly managed. Similarly, the relationship between geodiversity and geotourism should be considered in the context of sustainability, leading to sustainable development, especially in vulnerable and rural areas. Sustainable development has been defined as “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [15].
Although, concerning the specific interest of this paper, there is not a shared definition of a rural area. According to the methodology of classification adopted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) [16], a rural area is one of the three regional typologies of regions of OECD member countries. The criteria used by this methodology are (i) the population density and (ii) the size of the urban centres situated within a specific geographic area. Hence, a rural area has a population density lower than 150 inhabitants per square kilometre, and a region that contains an urban centre of less than 200,000 inhabitants [16], even though rural areas are not always very distant from the main urban centres [17]. Moreover, the economy of a rural area is fragile, due to the outflows of working age population [18], and it is based mainly on agriculture, with complementary activities connected to natural resources (forestry, fishing, crafting, etc.) [19].
Like other types of tourism, geotourism can be divided into seven categories, including rural geotourism [20]. The presence of geotourists in rural areas help the local economy because the visitors spend money on local activities and businesses, resulting in economical growth of the rural area and, simultaneously, the preservation of authenticity in the area [20].
Geotourism also encourages employment opportunities and economic benefits for the local population [21,22,23], and activities linked to geotourism, geoheritage, and geoconservation can have a central role in the sustainable development of a large diversity of regions [24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35], as well as within the UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) [35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48]. Thanks to the complexity of its national territory, Italy holds a rich cultural and geological heritage [49] which is considered a “gym” for the geotourism activities, even outside the areas of UGGps. Italian geosites, in fact, can be found across the country in a diverse range of geological environments [50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61]. The full list of official Italian geosites is available on the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (in Italian: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA) website [62].
Since geotourism focuses mainly on natural or semi-natural features and processes (geoheritage), it suffers the impacts (both direct and indirect, sensu [63]) of climate change. Consequences for geotourism include the degradation or disappearance of geotourism resources and their cultural significance, diminished or restricted access to geological features or their prominence, the loss of important witnesses of past events on the Earth, such as rock formations, sediment layers, and landforms, or the loss of climate records due to melting glaciers [64]. Despite the rich literature about the impacts of climate change on general tourism [65], there is a lack of scientific literature on the effects of climate change on geotourism, with the exception of two main topics: (i) glaciers and high mountain environments [50,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77] and (ii) costal geosites, which suffer the risks of rising sea levels and coastal erosion [63,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85].
The aim of the present study is to identify the best geosites for an initial development of geotourism in the Chiusella Valley, exploring the possibility of attracting geotourists in an area abundant in geodiversity elements which suffer from climate change, thereby increasing the awareness of geotourists on these issues.
To raise awareness among geotourists about past and present climate change, the final product of the present study is the realization of a geotouristic map with geosites in the Chiusella Valley and simplified informative cards with highlights on climate change in a medium mountain environment.

2. Study Area

The Chiusella Valley extends over the high and medium sector of the Chiusella river basin, in which eight municipalities are included (Brosso, Issiglio, Rueglio, Traversella, Val di Chy—formed by the union of the Alice Superiore, Lugnacco, and Pecco villages, Valchiusa—formed by the union of Drusacco, Meugliano, Trausella, and Vico Canavese villages, Vidracco, and Vistrorio), spreading over an area of 143 km2, with a length of 25 km (Figure 2). Many summits are over 2500 m a.s.l., with the Monfandì peak being the highest mountain of the Valley, with a maximum elevation at 2820 m a.s.l. The main river is the Chiusella, which originates from Monte Marzo (2756 m a.s.l.).
From an economical point of view, the Chiusella Valley did not suffer the processes of mass tourism, so it has maintained a high natural and cultural value and has a high potential for tourism due to its position. It is partially located in the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre (IMA), very close to the Gran Paradiso National Park and the most touristic Aosta Valley, not so far from the main cities of NW Italy (Torino is 80 km south, Milano is 150 km east). However, winter sport activities in the area are very limited because there has been no active ski area since the early 2000s, because increasing temperatures reduced the availability of natural snow during the winter season and, for such a small ski area, operating and maintaining the ski lifts was not economically viable.
Concerning social and demographic issues, like many other alpine areas, the depopulation phenomenon is present in the Chiusella Valley; from over 14.000 inhabitants in 1881, today there are only 5.197 people settled in the area and most of them are working outside the border of the valley [86].

2.1. Geological Setting

Traveling through the Chiusella Valley, geotourists can discover and cross different geological units, which demonstrates how geodiversity can be high even in a very small geographical area. Here, geotourists have the opportunity to encounter rocks belonging to the Earth’s crust and mantle and walk along a major tectonic discontinuity (geologically called the Insubric line, locally called Canavese line), which represents the suture between the European plate and the African plate. As a matter of fact, the Chiusella Valley itself represents a geological itinerary which crosses part of the western Alpine chain, from the internal sector to the central (axial) one; geotourists thus have the opportunity to touch rocks of sedimentary, magmatic, and metamorphic origin, in a geomorphological environment shaped by ancient glaciers and rivers.
For a better understanding the great geodiversity of this Valley, a brief introduction to the geological setting of the area is necessary. In the Chiusella Valley, there are several rocks belonging to different geological unit of the outcrops of the Western Alps (Figure 3), with different origins and ages. According to [87], the Western Alps are divided into four geological domains (Southalpine, Austroalpine, Penninic, and Helvetic–Dauphinois domains) characterized by different paleogeographic origins and evolutionary history. In this perspective, the study area is characterized by several units belonging to the Southalpine and Austroalpine domains.
Within the Chiusella Valley, the Southalpine domain is represented by the geological units called the Ivrea–Verbano zone and Canavese zone.
The Ivrea–Verbano zone represents a segment of the Adriatic lower crust. It comprises a Variscan basement, transitioning from upper amphibolite to granulite facies (the Kinzigite Formation Auct. [88]). This crystalline basement was intruded by gabbro and diorite bodies of lower Permian age (the Mafic Complex Auct. [89,90]). Bodies of spinel peridotite, interpreted as subcontinental mantle slices, crop out along the western boundary of the Ivrea–Verbano zone, located between the Insubric line and the mafic complex [89].
As a result, the Ivrea–Verbano zone is considered one of the most spectacular cross-sections of lower-to-middle continental crust exposed on the Earth’s surface [91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98]. It also shows the lithological transition from the lower continental crust to the mantle, with gabbros, basic granulites, and peridotites [99]. In the Chiusella Valley, the geotourists can observe spectacular evidence of the geological features described above in the Monti Pelati area.
The Canavese zone is a juxtaposed tectonic unit between the Southalpine and Austroalpine domains, from which it is separated by segments of the Insubric line. A diversity of rocks (Paleozoic metamorphic basement intruded by magmatic rocks, on which the Meso–Cenozoic sedimentary successions rest) crops out in the Canavese zone. Within the Chiusella Valley, they consist of Permian granitoids and volcanic and sedimentary units of Mesozoic age [100]. These rocks can be observed near the Vistrorio, Vidracco, and Val di Chy villages.
The Austroalpine domain in the study area consists of the Sesia–Lanzo zone. This unit, cropping out in the upper part of the Chiusella Valley, is represented by both the Eclogitic Micaschist and Gneiss Minuti complexes [101,102]; these are rocks (micaschist and gneiss, with minor metabasite bodies and marbles lenses) of continental crust subducted and re-equilibrated under eclogitic conditions during the Alpine orogenesis. Moreover, the Sesia–Lanzo zone was affected by an intrusive magmatic activity of the Oligocene Age, corresponding to the most famous Brosso–Traversella pluton [103,104]. In particular, the Pluton is relatively small in dimension and is made of quartz diorite and monzodiorite rocks [105], which were also used as ornamental stones in the past [106]. Due to the intrusion of this pluton into the Sesia–Lanzo zone, important ore deposits have been formed, which are well preserved in the study area. In the geological literature, the Traversella ore deposits are classified as “skarn deposits” (named after the old Swedish mining town of Skarn [107]), still representing a fundamental source of metals (W, Fe, Au, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Sn) and, locally, industrial minerals [108]. This geological feature allowed the opening of the local iron mines and gave life to the Brosso–Traversella mining complex.
Concerning most recent geological phenomena, geotourists can appreciate the superficial deposits of Quaternary age; (i) glacial deposits from the small Chiusella Valley glacier and the large Balteo glacier (which gives life to the IMA, a testimony of the most evident and important glacial extension of the Aosta Valley in the Quaternary) [109,110]; (ii) in the lower part of the Chiusella Valley, alluvial deposits and fluvioglacial deposits, mainly in the Vico Canavese area, and (iii) alluvial deposits in the bottom area of the valley [111,112].
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Figure 3. Simplified geological map of the Chiusella Valley (adapted from [113,114,115]).
Figure 3. Simplified geological map of the Chiusella Valley (adapted from [113,114,115]).
Geosciences 14 00175 g003

2.2. Geomorphological Setting

Concerning the present-day geomorphological landscape (Figure 4), the Chiusella Valley shows two distinct sectors; the upper sector has the traits of the alpine environment, with steep slopes, sparse vegetation, landslides, and tracks of glacial cirques, and the lower sector has a gentle morphology, with smooth hills, fields, and woods [116].
According to [111], the Chiusella Valley had its own glacier during the Pleistocene ice ages. The glacier shaped the morphology of the area, but the area now presents only few relict morainic deposits, due to intense erosional processes along the slopes. In the upper part of the valley, traces of moraines can be found which are associated to erosional features such as glacial cirques. Other morainic deposits can be found on both sides of the Chiusella Valley, especially in the area between the Traversella and Brosso villages on the left side, and they form a small morainic amphitheatre where the Chiusella Valley meets the lateral Bersella Valley (Traversella area).
The eastern limit of the Chiusella Valley is represented by deposits belonging to the right moraine of the IMA. These deposits constitute various morainic ridges, with irregular development in the area of the Brosso and Val di Chy villages [111].
The past occurrence of glacial modelling in the Chiusella Valley is witnessed not only by the morainic deposits in the upper part of the Valley, but also by the presence of glacial terraces, erratic boulders, glacial striations, and the rochees mountonneé widespread in the territory [111,117]. Traces of cirque glaciers can be seen in the right bank of the Chiusella Valley, from the head to the SE side of Punta Palit, as highlighted in the geomorphological map. Moreover, glacial saddles are also found on the border of the valley, communicating with the nearby valleys (Figure 4).
One of the major geomorphological phenomena of the Chiusella Valley is the evident stream diversion in the area south of Valchiusa. During and at the end of the ice ages, the IMA blocked the flow of the Chiusella river, forcing it to diverge its path from W–E to N–S [111].
The area has also two morainic lakes (Alice Lake and Meugliano Lake), delimitated by moraines of different ages [109,118]. Moorlands form a plain in the surrounding area of the Alice Lake.
All of the lower part of the Chiusella Valley shows smooth morphologies, due to the presence of fluviolacustrine terraces in the area.
According to [111], at the end of Pleistocene ice ages, the increasing glacial melt water created various streams from the small lateral valleys; the high and steep slopes accentuated the speed of the water, thus allowing the excavation of some gorges (“guja” in local dialect), the most important ones of which are the “Guja di Garavot” and the “Guja di Gussej”. Alluvial fans, both active and inactive, are frequent at the meeting point of the small lateral valley with the principal Chiusella Valley. Depositional and erosional processes caused by the Chiusella stream and its attributes are still very active, particularly in the middle valley, as this happened during the October 2020 flood [119].
To complete the geomorphological overview, the area presents high instability of the slopes. In fact, according to the landslide information system in the Piemonte region (in Italian: Sistema Informativo Frane in Piemonte—SIFraP) of the Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment (in Italian: Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale—ARPA), it counts more than 300 landslides and other gravitational features [120], including an active monitored deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGSD) located in Delpizzen locality, in the Traversella municipality [121].

2.3. Cultural Mining Heritage in the Chiusella Valley

Inhabited since prehistoric times, the importance of the Chiusella Valley is mainly linked to the mines and rock quarries of the area and their activities. The Traversella–Brosso mining complex was once the biggest iron extraction point of the Western Alps., The Traversella quarry was especially rich in iron and just the mineral extracted here was enough to meet almost the whole demand for iron in the subalpine area. The richness in iron minerals, such as magnetite and pyrite, is because of the Traversella pluton.
The opening years of the Traversella and Brosso mines are still uncertain but are probably from Roman times or even before. The first official evidence of activities in the quarries are 1570 and 1487, respectively [122]. In the centuries after, the presence of such active and productive quarries led to the invention of new techniques, such as the blast furnace, which was very useful in times of local and regional wars. This huge mining activity increased the number of people living in the area, especially from the 18th century. After the French occupancy of the region, the mining activity reduced its production for a few years up until the closure. After that, years of production were alternated to years of crisis, but without reaching the level of the first years. In the work “Le miniere dei Baduj” [122], the history of the Traversella mining is well explained, with details on activities conducted within the mine and complete data about the quality and quantity of the extracted minerals. With the definitive closure of the Traversella and Brosso quarries (1971 and 1964, respectively), a big part of the population left the area, resulting in the depopulation of the Chiusella Valley, which is still going on nowadays [122,123,124].
The Chiusella Valley, moreover, is known worldwide by mineralogists because of over one hundred species of minerals found in the Traversella and Brosso mining sites. These minerals are shown in museums worldwide [125,126]. In this context, the mining districts of Traversella and Brosso represent symbols of material and cultural value of the geodiversity of the Piemonte region [127]. The mining paths, the scattered forges in the territory, the extraction tunnels, and the colourful veins rich in sulphur and the precious mineralisations represent cultural geosites that speak of the past, but also of the future. Certainly, they remind us of the hard but fruitful work that miners have carried out in order to benefit from the rich mining geodiversity, but they also teach our generation, and future ones, the necessity of reducing anthropic impacts on the environment [128].

3. Materials and Methods

The choice of the geosites for the development of geotourism in the Chiusella Valley started from the analysis of the scientific literature. The selection includes all the sites that are recorded in the literature as having a connection to Earth science interests and educational activities conducted in the area, with a focus on the geodiversity and geoheritage of the territory.
The geosite assessment model (GAM) from [129] has been applied to the sites of geological interest for the individuation of the best geosites for the geotourism development in the Chiusella Valley. For each geosite chosen using the GAM, a descriptive card (or inventory card, modified by the ISPRA [130] according to the geosite inventory initiatives in the Piemonte region [131,132,133,134,135,136]) and the geosystem services table [11] have been filled. After the filling of the inventory card and the GS table, traces of past and present climate change have been highlighted in some geosites. For the individuation of the ongoing climate change, climatic indexes have been calculated using data from Arpa Piemonte [137].
The final products of this work are (i) a simplified informative card for each geosite, based on the descriptive card and the geosystem services table, and (ii) a geotouristic map, in which the most significant geological and geomorphological features are maintained, with the most important touristic information. In this sense, it is important to use scientific but simplified sentences and cartography that is understandable for people with a non-scientific background; i.e, the geotourists.
The workflow of the methodology adopted for this study is shown in Figure 5.

3.1. Geosites Assessment Model

The structure of the GAM is explained by [129]. The evaluation of the sites is given by the presence of 27 indicators, divided into two groups of values, main values and additional values [129].
The main values include three categories of indicators; scientific/educational value (VSE), scenic/aesthetic value (VSA), and protection value (VPr). The main values are 12 sub-indicators in total. The additional values are composed of two categories of indicators, functional value (VFn) and tourism value (VTr). The additional values are composed of a total of 15 sub-indicators. Every sub-indicator is graded from 0 to 1, and the GAM is defined by an algebraic Equation (1):
GAM = main values (VSE + VSA + VPr) + additional values (VFn + VTr).
After the assessment of each site, a matrix of the two groups of values must be completed for the individuation of the best geosites for the promotion of geotourism in the area. On the X axis, the main values are presented, while the additional values are located on the Y axis. The matrix is divided into nine zones (fields) indicated as Z(i,j) (i,j = 1,2,3), in which the geosites are plotted according to the previous evaluation of the sub-indicators. Figure 6 shows the matrix.

3.2. Descriptive Card and GS Table

The descriptive card used for this work has been adapted from the one proposed by the ISPRA [130] (developed within the project named “Conservation of the Italian Geological heritage” [138,139,140]). The descriptive card has been developed by the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Torino, Italy, through the years. The first attempt at developing a suitable inventory card to be applied to the geodiversity of the Piemonte region was developed by [131], in the area of the Gran Paradiso National Park, then applied to other alpine sectors [132]. Subsequently, the work of [133] highlighted the necessity to generate an inventory card compatible with the one proposed by the ISPRA. In this sense, [134], in accordance with [131], the following sections were added: (i) geological hazards, (ii) natural vulnerability, and (iii) anthropic impacts. These additions are useful for the touristic fruition and the management aspects of the geosites, due to the increasing number of geotourists. After the approval of the Piemonte Regional Law n. 23/23 (named “Provisions for the conservation, management and valorisation of the geological heritage” [141]), the card has been improved by the working group of the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Torino, resulting in the descriptive card used in the present work. This card contains a qualitative description of each site. It has six sections; (i) general information (name, geographical information, brief description, environmental context, etc.); (ii) features of geodiversity of interest for the geosite (lithostratigraphy, structure, geomorphology, soils, hydrogeology); (iii) scientific and other interests; (iv) environmental and territorial dynamics (hazard, vulnerability, human activities and impacts); (v) use of the geosite (accessibility, visibility, services, risks, and season for visiting), and (vi) protection and conservation (with space for suggesting valorisation actions). The filling of the cards was performed after a field survey for each site, with occasional help from the scientific literature.
The GS table for each geosite has been filled, indicating one or more geosystem services according to the information provided in the descriptive card.
The descriptive card used is available in the Supplementary Materials (Table S1).

3.3. “Witnesses” of Climate Change

The daily climatological data were downloaded from three meteorological stations of the Arpa Piemonte network [137]. The selected stations were Traversella (1165 m a.s.l.), Cavallaria (1270 m a.s.l.), and Meugliano (650 m a.s.l.). The meteorological parameters analyzed on a daily scale in this study were maximum temperature (TX), minimum temperature (TN), and liquid precipitation. The time intervals of the climate data considered were the following: (i) Traversella, 1996–2022; (ii) Cavallaria, 1998–2022, and (iii) Meugliano, 1988–2022.
For the climatic analysis, we selected specific indices (Table 1) from 70 of those produced by the Expert Team (ET) on Climate Change, as recommended by the World Meteorological Organization—Commission for Climatology (WMO—CCl) [142], and calculated at annual scale. In addition, for each index annual trends were calculated with the Mann–Kendall test [143] with a significance level of 5% for temperature indices and 10% for precipitation indices.
The information in the descriptive cards and in the GS table have been used, together with climatic indexes, to identify those sites where the effects of past and present climate changes are well documented. In doing so, research into historical iconography has been conducted.

3.4. Geotouristic Map and Simplified Card of Geosites

For each geosite, a simplified descriptive card has been provided. It has been elaborated on from the information contained in the descriptive card and the GS table. The information provided to the geotourists includes (i) name of the geosite, (ii) geographic information, (iii) geological and cultural heritage contents, (iv) accessibility, (v) a brief description of the geosite, (vi) geodiversity elements, (vii) geosystem services provided, and (viii) iconography of the geosite. The structure of the simplified descriptive card is available in Figure 7. Finally, the geosites identified with the GAM have been inserted on a geographic map of the area, in which accessibility elements (roads and paths) and tourist amenities (accommodations, restaurants, museums, etc.) are also included. Major geodiversity elements and cultural heritage elements are also added on the map. The geotouristic map shows also the main touristic facilities in order to help the geotourists in the planning of their experience.

4. Results

The analysis of the scientific literature and educational activities has led to the identification of nine potential geosites. The list of the geosites is shown in Table 2.
In the application of the GAM to the eight sites of interest, some local activities that usually give information to the tourists have been considered as “visitor centres”, due to the lack of proper visitor centres in the Chiusella Valley.
In the Figure 8, the matrix shows the results of the GAM. The assessment of each sub-indicator for each geosite is available in the Supplementary Materials (Table S2).
Four sites resulted as the best selections for geotourism promotion of the area; G1, G3, G7, and G8. They are classified in Z33, with very high main and additional values, and Z32, with high main value and medium additional value. Moreover, high importance has been given to the additional value “accessibility”, in order to be more inclusive in the development of geotourism in the area. For each geosite individuated, the descriptive card has been filled after a field survey, and the GSs have been identified (Table 3).
Concerning the climatic indexes, the most important results were provided from the climatic indices of the Meugliano and Traversella station data; on the contrary, the data from the Cavallaria station presented too many gaps to provide significant results. In Table 4, the annual trend of the selected indices is reported.
From the trends, we can say that there has been an increase in temperature since 1988 within the area of study. The most interesting results are on the minimum temperatures (TN10p, TN90p, TNm); in fact, we observed an increase in the mean minimum temperature and an increase in the days with a minimum temperature over the 90th percentile, and a decrease in the days with a minimum temperature under the 10th percentile, in both locations (Meugliano and Traversella). These six trends are also statistically significant, which underlines the robustness of the results. On the contrary, the precipitation indices results are different from each other. The annual total precipitation trend and the R95ptot trend are positive for Meugliano and negative for Traversella, but are always not statistically significant.
Analyses of the climatic indexes and iconographic research over the study area allowed further selection of geosites in order to designate the best locations for creating public engagement on climatic issues. Two areas have been identified:
  • G3 and G8 are suitable for showing evidence of present-day global warming;
  • G3 is also a good site in which traces of the past climate changes can be identified.
The G3 morainic ridges and glacial deposits correlate to the Pleistocene ice ages, thus allowing the comprehension of the past climate in the area. However, within G3 it is also possible to identify traces of ongoing climate change. In fact, historical pictures from this geosite (Figure 9) show two intermorainic lakes completely iced oveer, with people walking on the surface of the Meugliano Lake; 2010 was the last time this happened, whereas in the last century it was a frequent annual condition. This is in line with the trend of the increasing temperature, in which the days with a temperature below 0 °C are decreasing. Moreover, the GeoDidaLab geoscience education laboratory, led by the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Torino [144], has its headquarters within the G3 area. This laboratory has been identified as the perfect hub for indoor activities concerning the past and present climate change in the area.
The geosite G8 is a DSGSD on which ski facilities were built. Nowadays, the ski lifts are no longer in function due to the reduction in the amount of snow during winter, again due to the increasing temperature. However, the presence of the ski runs and the abandoned ski lifts serves as significant evidence of ongoing climate change. Moreover, walking uphill on the DSGSD, it is possible to appreciate the geodiversity of the landscape of the Chiusella Valley.
After the collection of the totality of the information, a simplified informative card has been filled for each geosite (see Supplementary Materials Table S3). The use of a simplified, but still specific, vocabulary is vital in order to help non-experts understand the most important concepts of the geological importance of the geosites and the impact of climate change. The final step has been the generation of the Chiusella Valley geotouristic map (Figure 10).

5. Discussion

Geodiversity and geoheritage studies and geosite assessment for the geotouristic development of the Chiusella Valley show the presence of eight sites with medium or high scientific importance, but also other important values, such as ecological value, educational potential, connection with local culture and history, and landscape importance. However, only four of the eight geosites have been chosen for the development of geotourism in the area, as they resulted in high main and additional values (G1, G3, G7) or high main value and medium additional value (G8), according to the GAM method. G1 is already part of the inventory of national geosites made by the ISPRA.
For the four geosites identified, the descriptive card and the GS table have been filled. When analysing the GSs provided by the geosites, only G8 showed a regulation GS. Among all 25 GSs, only two of the following were shared by all: (7) land and water as platform, and (17) geotourism and leisure. However, the impact of climate change can show a shift in the actual GS, as occurred in the case of G8; in fact, “social development” in the GS (20) was provided in the past, thanks to the opening of the ski lifts which were attracting tourism even from outside the Chiusella Valley. The reduction of the amount of snow led to the closure of the ski lifts, reducing the attractiveness of the territory during the winter season. In the same way, the increase in the temperature changed processes within the morainic lakes in G3, leading to a faster landfill of the lake due to the major eutrophication of the water, with a consequent loss of geodiversity and geoheritage and reduction in geotourist presence. After the individuation of the geosites, it is important to look at other infrastructure and services for implementing geotouristic offerings. The two main constraints are (i) accessibility, because the geosites should be reachable for everyone, without being too selective, at least in the initial phase of geotouristic development, and (ii) touristic facilities, because the presence of a high number of tourists must be supported and managed by the local activities.
The geosites identified in this study are accessible through existing paths. As such, the creation of new routes is not necessary, so the environmental impact is very low, even though some works are necessary for securing parts of some paths, or for keeping the trails clean and enjoyable without any risks related to the natural environment.
Analysing the touristic facilities in the territory, the presence of numerous accommodation and restoration places spread through the territory is evident, but what is prominent is the lack of an official visitor centre, which is fundamental for the promotion of the area. At the moment, information regarding activities and places in the Chiusella Valley is given from local activities where some touristic flyers can be found. The presence of the headquarters of the GeoDidaLab, a geoscience and educational laboratory, is fundamental in order to spread knowledge of geodiversity and geoheritage, but also climate changes within the area. The activities of the laboratory are appropriate for both schools and general geotourists.
Moreover, the increase in the temperature across the region, especially in the large cities and in the Po Plain, has forced the tourists to find places in the natural environment with a less warm climate. This characteristic can be found in the Chiusella Valley, hence the necessity of developing an adequate touristic and geotouristic offer in the area.
Thanks to the simplified cards for the geosites and the Geotouristic map, geotourists can learn more about the geodiversity of the area, and they can also include geological and cultural heritage for a more complete touristic offer and a longer stay in the Chiusella Valley.

6. Conclusions

The results of this study led to the identification of four geosites, allowing a first step in the geotourism development of the Chiusella Valley.
The presence of some facilities and essential activities in the territory has been indicated as an opportunity for sustainable mobility in the area, thus decreasing the need for daily commutes from the Chiusella Valley to the nearby urban areas of Ivrea and Torino and reducing the impact of travelling long distances by car. Moreover, the development of geotourism in the area presents the possibility of employing local people in local tourism activities, and allows the showcasing of local activities and products to the tourists, generating a new sustainable economy in the territory. The involvement of the local communities is also crucial in the promotion of the geosites, with initiatives related to the knowledge of the geoheritage of the area. At the same time, local residents are the first respondents in the territory and they can quickly identify issues, advocate for conservation efforts, and contribute solutions and strategies for the long-term preservation of the geosites.
The four geosites identified in the study are located in different parts of the Valley, from the entrance (Monti Pelati, in Vidracco municipality) to the end of the driveway (DSGSD of Delpizzen), crossing the medium valley (morainic area, on the eastern border, and the Traversella mining site). They provide almost all geosystem services. The geosites are reachable by car or with a short walk, and their importance is also due to the natural environment in which they are located. There is also a significant connection with the issue of climate change, both past and ongoing. To highlight it, two geosites have been chosen and one of them can offer the possibility of developing a “hub” in which climate change can be well explained and where geotourists can become more aware of the impacts of global warming.
There is no need for new paths to connect the geosites. Consequently, the environmental impact of geotourism will be very low, concerning only the installation of new panels for the geotouristic map and the simplified descriptive cards. However, more investment and improvements are required in the case of tourist values in order to attract a larger number of tourists in the future, especially the creation of visitor centres, guided tours and the promotion of geo-initiatives, creating richer geotouristic offerings and attracting more tourists.
Hence, the final products of this study are the simplified informative cards and a geotouristic map, understandable by the general public, with the intent of involving new people in geodiversity studies and conservation, thanks to new knowledge on the topic and the understanding of the impacts of climate change.
Since this is an initial phase of the development of geotourism in the Chiusella Valley, the application of the geosite assessment model by [129] was appropriate, because it only takes expert views into consideration. For further studies, after the success of this first proposal, the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM) by [145] will be used for new geosites according to tourists’ opinions and interests.
Finally, we consider that future studies on the climate issues in the region should address the conditions of the morainic lakes, and collect further environmental data to gain and implement knowledge of post-glacial climate warming in an area of rich geoheritage.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/geosciences14070175/s1, Table S1: Model of descriptive card; Table S2: GAM results; Table S3: Simplified cards–G1, G3, G7, G8.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: A.N., M.P. and M.G.; Data curation: A.N., E.S., A.M.C., F.A., M.P. and M.G.; Formal analysis: A.N., A.M.C. and F.A.; Investigation: A.N., E.S., R.B.K., A.M.C., F.A. and M.G.; Methodology: A.N., R.B.K., A.M.C., F.A., M.P. and M.G.; Project administration: A.N. and M.G.; Resources: A.N., E.S., R.B.K., A.M.C., F.A., M.P. and M.G.; Supervision: A.N., R.B.K. and M.G.; Validation A.N., E.S., R.B.K., A.M.C., F.A. and M.G.; Visualization: A.N., E.S., R.B.K., F.A. and M.G.; Writing—original draft: A.N., E.S., R.B.K., M.P. and M.G.; Writing—review and editing: A.N., E.S., R.B.K., A.M.C., F.A., M.P. and M.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The work was partly carried out in the framework of (i) the Arctic Hubs (Global drivers, local consequences) EU H2020 RIA Project Number: 869580 and (ii) the NODES Spoke 4 project within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) Ministerial Decree No. 1054 dated 23 June 2022.

Data Availability Statement

Data are contained within the article and Supplementary Materials.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the reviewers and the Editorial Board of Geosciences for the reviews, suggestions, and opportunity.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Classification of geosystem services (GSs) according to [11]. The importance of the geodiversity in the definition of the GS is evident.
Figure 1. Classification of geosystem services (GSs) according to [11]. The importance of the geodiversity in the definition of the GS is evident.
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Figure 2. Geographical location of Chiusella Valley. (A) Geographical position in Piemonte Region (NW Italy); (B) main geographical elements of the Chiusella Valley.
Figure 2. Geographical location of Chiusella Valley. (A) Geographical position in Piemonte Region (NW Italy); (B) main geographical elements of the Chiusella Valley.
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Figure 4. Geomorphological sketch map of the Chiusella Valley.
Figure 4. Geomorphological sketch map of the Chiusella Valley.
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Figure 5. Workflow of the study.
Figure 5. Workflow of the study.
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Figure 6. GAM matrix used for the assessment of the geosites. On the X axis main values are inserted; on the Y axis, additional values are inserted. Each axis is divided into three sections, for a total of nine zones (or fields).
Figure 6. GAM matrix used for the assessment of the geosites. On the X axis main values are inserted; on the Y axis, additional values are inserted. Each axis is divided into three sections, for a total of nine zones (or fields).
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Figure 7. Structure of the simplified informative card.
Figure 7. Structure of the simplified informative card.
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Figure 8. Disposition of geosites in the GAM matrix according the results of the assessment. The assessment of each geosite has been inserted into the GAM matrix. The majority of the geosites show medium to high main value and additional value, with the exception of G6, which it shows high main value, but low additional value.
Figure 8. Disposition of geosites in the GAM matrix according the results of the assessment. The assessment of each geosite has been inserted into the GAM matrix. The majority of the geosites show medium to high main value and additional value, with the exception of G6, which it shows high main value, but low additional value.
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Figure 9. Iced lakes. (A) Meugliano Lake, with people walking on the iced surface (photo: Bovio Luigi, 31st December 2010). (B) Alice Lake (photo: Gastaldi Enzo, February 2010).
Figure 9. Iced lakes. (A) Meugliano Lake, with people walking on the iced surface (photo: Bovio Luigi, 31st December 2010). (B) Alice Lake (photo: Gastaldi Enzo, February 2010).
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Figure 10. Geotouristic map of Chiusella Valley. Geosites: G1—Monti Pelati; G3—morainic area; G7—Traversella mining complex; G8—DSGSD, Delpizzen.
Figure 10. Geotouristic map of Chiusella Valley. Geosites: G1—Monti Pelati; G3—morainic area; G7—Traversella mining complex; G8—DSGSD, Delpizzen.
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Table 1. Selected temperature and precipitation indices.
Table 1. Selected temperature and precipitation indices.
Short NameLong NameDefinitionDescriptionUnits
TN90pAmount of warm
nights		Percentage of days when TN > 90th percentileFraction of days with warm
night-time temperatures		%
TN10pAmount of cold nights Percentage of days when TN < 10th percentileFraction of days with cold night-time temperatures%
TNmMean TN Mean daily minimum temperatureAverage daily minimum temperature°C
TX90pAmount of hot days Percentage of days when TX > 90th percentileFraction of days with hot daytime temperatures%
TX10pAmount of cool days Percentage of days when TX < 10th percentileFraction of days with cool daytime temperatures%
PRCPTOTAnnual total precipitationSum of daily precipitation ≥ 1.0 mmTotal wet day rainfallmm
R95ptotTotal annual precipitation from heavy rain daysAnnual sum of daily precipitation > 95th percentileAmount of rainfall from very wet daysmm
Table 2. List of potential geosites.
Table 2. List of potential geosites.
Geosite NameGeosite IDMunicipality/Ies
Monti PelatiG1Vidracco
Garavot GorgeG2Val di Chy
Morainic Area (IMA)G3Val di Chy-Valchiusa
Brosso Mining siteG4Brosso
Assa WaterfallG5Brosso
Traversella PlutonG6Brosso-Traversella-Valchiusa
Traversella Mining siteG7Traversella
DSGD DelpizzenG8Traversella
Table 3. GS provided by each geosite.
Table 3. GS provided by each geosite.
GeositeRegulationSupportingProvisioningCulturalKnowledge
G1/5, 6, 71317, 2021, 23, 25
G3/5, 6, 7, 81116, 17, 18, 2021, 23, 25
G7/7, 812, 13, 1417, 18, 2021, 22, 25
G825, 6, 7/1723
Table 4. Trend of selected indices, in bold are the statistically significant results.
Table 4. Trend of selected indices, in bold are the statistically significant results.
IndexMeuglianoTraversella
TN90p0.4780.342
TN10p−0.516−0.358
TNm0.0770.056
TX90p0.3330.235
TX10p−0.406−0.256
PRCPTOT3.955−0.348
R95ptot0.033−0.144
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Negri, A.; Storta, E.; Khoso, R.B.; Colizzi, A.M.; Acquaotta, F.; Palomba, M.; Giardino, M. Sustainable Geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A Tool for Enhancing Alpine Geoheritage in the Context of Climate Change. Geosciences 2024, 14, 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175

AMA Style

Negri A, Storta E, Khoso RB, Colizzi AM, Acquaotta F, Palomba M, Giardino M. Sustainable Geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A Tool for Enhancing Alpine Geoheritage in the Context of Climate Change. Geosciences. 2024; 14(7):175. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175

Chicago/Turabian Style

Negri, Arianna, Elena Storta, Rasool Bux Khoso, Agnese Maria Colizzi, Fiorella Acquaotta, Mauro Palomba, and Marco Giardino. 2024. "Sustainable Geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A Tool for Enhancing Alpine Geoheritage in the Context of Climate Change" Geosciences 14, no. 7: 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175

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