Current Achievements in Geosite Research

Abstract

One of the many ways of study by which geography can be useful in today’s economic context is by analyzing those geographic locations that are important not only scientifically but also culturally, historically, aesthetically or economically. Called in the literature “ a bridge between science and culture ” (Reynard et al., 2018), geosites are the subject of recent but increasingly complex concerns within geosciences. Amid growing awareness of the importance of the human-environment relationship both for individuals and for society as a whole, the study of geography in recent decades has manifested a predisposition to focus on increasingly practical applications, and the scope of geographic research has broaden to actions that have in the forefront the highlighting of natural heritage, natural monuments and the need to preserve, protect and enhance the environment. Given their diverse nature and genesis, geosites are considered to be of particular importance in understanding the Earth’s natural history (Reynard 2005a), and they also play a vital role in the observation of recent and current processes in the relief, characterized by a marked dynamics in the medium or short term. For this reason, research on geosites that are subject to modification or even degradation under the influence of natural or anthropogenic causes is of particular importance and needs to be carried out periodically to analyze geomorphological processes such as landslides, mud flows or fluvial erosion. Geosites are considered to be elements of geoheritage that should be protected and preserved for future generations.