Land surface diversity: a quantitative approach toward the ecological sustainability of Switzerland’s landscape and Geomorphological heritage in the Val d'Hérens - insights for a more systemic approach in geomorphosites inventories

Martina Burnelli : Land surface diversity: a quantitative approach toward the ecological sustainability of Switzerland’s landscape
The land surface diversity index (GmI) describes the geomorphodiversity of the landscape through a quantitative approach. The definition of such an index for the whole Switzerland is useful to investigate the spatial and temporal evolution of the landscape in both natural and anthropic contexts and to analyse the relationships between the geodiversity and the biodiversity. Moreover, the GmI may contribute as a new indicator for the land use and land cover management of urban spaces and for the safeguard of ecodiversity.

Andrea Ferrando : Geomorphological heritage in the Val d'Hérens - insights for a more systemic approach in geomorphosites inventories
In the last two decades, geoheritage protection and enhancement have garnered a certain attention in the scientific community. Numerous studies have dealt with the identification, selection and inventorying of geosites, and the assessment of their values (scientific, aesthetic, cultural, educational etc.) and their degradation risk. Issues can arise when looking at very dynamical geomorphological environments: one example is the Alpine high mountain environment, that is in constant evolution due to climate change and anthropogenic pressure. In these cases, the evolution and eventual degradation of the single landform can be better understood by considering a larger framework, that is, the whole geomorphological system in which the landform is located. This research presents a new revised inventory of geomorphosites in the Val d'Hérens (Pennine Alps), released by using a systemic approach. On this inventory, geomorphosites assessment has been performed, and this can give way to subsequent actions of geoconservation and geoheritage enhancement for tourism.

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