The Po Plain Loess Basin (Northern Italy): Scientific Values, Threats, and Promotion Opportunities

Irene M. Bollati,Andrea Zerboni

doi:10.1007/s12371-021-00596-2

Abstract

Geoheritage studies periodically propose assessment methodologies addressed to quantify the value of sites of interests towards geoconservation and/or promotion. Loess outcrops in the Po Plain Loess basin (Northern Italy) represent potential geoheritage sites, allowing to reconstruct glacial and interglacial cycles, testifying evidence of paleoseismicity, and preserving traces of Palaeolithic human exploitation along the foreland of the Alpine and Apennine ranges. In this contribution, firstly we propose a brief review on the loess sites in the framework of geoheritage studies. Then, we evaluate the 6 most significant loess outcrops scattered across the Po Plain Loess Basin (Monte Netto Hill, Val Sorda Sequence, Gajum Section, Ghiardo Plateau, Valenza Section, Torino Hill) applying a quantitative methodology aimed at ranking each locality respect to a benchmark site — the Romanengo Plateau — which is the sole loess site included in the Italian Inventory of Geosites. The 70% of sites obtained a global value higher than our benchmark. They show a high diversity, not only from the scientific point of view (i.e., site-intrinsic geodiversity), but also when we consider their Potential for Use. Despite often disregarded in the international panorama, Italian loess sites require a great attention. Moreover, such sites are evolving passive geomorphosites, thus potentially vulnerable from natural and human causes: this must be considered in the framework of geoconservation and sustainable promotion of each site. Finally, we discuss the possibility of promoting Italian loess sites through different strategies (e.g. virtual tours, 3D models, and gamification based on landscape reconstruction) allowing to visit them by remote and favouring promotion. At the same time, this approach will also promote geoconservation, improving awareness in the general public on the relevance of such sites for Earth (natural and human-related) history.

Highlights

Quaternary loess deposits and complex pedosequences developed into wind-blown silt as parent material are very powerful palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental indicators (Pye 1995)
The first step of loess outcrop investigation consisted in the analysis of the national and regional inventories of geosites, in order to detect the occurrence of loess sites in the Italian framework, that could be a first step towards their protection
According to the results obtained by the selected loess outcrops as potential geoheritage sites, for what concerns the attribute of site-intrinsic geodiversity (Fig. 3) and contributing to the Scientific Value (Fig. 8), almost all the assessed loess sequences reached the maximum value (1)

Summary

Introduction

Quaternary loess deposits and complex pedosequences developed into wind-blown silt as parent material are very powerful palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental indicators (Pye 1995). 1977; Heller and Liu 1982, Pecsi 1990; Crouvi et al 2010; Marković et al 2015; Wang et al, 2019; Lehmkuhl et al 2021). For this relevant scientific value, loess outcrops are acquiring great attention in the framework of geoheritage identification. The distribution of loess deposits all around the world has been quantified at about 10% of Earth’s surface Loess covers are relatively rare if compared to other kinds of Quaternary sediments, and often characterized by a hotspot like distributions, implying that a very careful analysis of the most suitable strategies for geoconservation versus promotion is required. The specific values and threats to loess sites of interest must be determined before to propose any form of promotion (Reynard et al 2007; Baadi et al, 2020)

Objectives

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion