Geoheritage as a Tool for Environmental Management: A Case Study in Northern Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Lidia Selmi,Ritienne Gauci,Paola Coratza,Mauro Soldati

doi:10.3390/resources8040168

Lidia Selmi, Ritienne Gauci + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8040168

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Abstract

The recognition, selection and quantitative assessment of sites of geological and geomorphological interest are fundamental steps in any environmental management focused on geoconservation and geotourism promotion. The island of Malta, in the central Mediterranean Sea, despite having a steadily increasing growth in population and tourism, still conserves geological and geomorphological features of great relevance and interest, both for their contribution to the understanding of the geological processes acting through time on landscape and for their aesthetic importance. The present work proposes an inventory for northern Malta, through three main stages, with the outcome of a final list of geosites that have the potential to be recognized as both natural heritage and tourist resources with potential economic benefits. In particular, the assessment methodology applied combines scientific value and additional and use-values, showing the links existing between geoheritage and other aspects of nature and culture of the sites. The results provide useful knowledge for the definition of strategies aimed at the development of a sustainable and responsible tourism.

Highlights

Recent global trends have shown heightened appreciation of the variety of abiotic natural resources, known as geodiversity
The analysis provides for the identification of a series of parameters characterizing each potential geosites
The coast of islets features a number of marine caves

Summary

Introduction

Recent global trends have shown heightened appreciation of the variety of abiotic natural resources, known as geodiversity This variety of non-living natural resources is defined by Gray [1] as the natural range (diversity) of geological, geomorphological and soil features. The small geographic scale of the islands is inversely proportional to the richness and frequency of places and artefacts of major importance, and it encompasses, as well, a large number of sites of geoscientific interest, showing a considerable geodiversity This applies in particular to northern Malta, a sector of the island moderately populated, but which still conserves landscapes of great relevance and interest from a scenic and scientific point of view.

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