Degradation Risk Assessment: Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change on Geoheritage

Abstract

Several factors and processes, both natural and anthropogenic, can threaten the integrity of any geosite, leading to their degradation. For this reason, geoheritage degradation risks should be considered a fundamental step in any geoconservation strategy, all the more when the aim is to tackle the effects of climate change. The present work proposes a quantitative methodology for the degradation risk assessment of geosites by considering the extrinsic factors that can damage the geoheritage. The methodology has been tested on the Maltese Islands, where considerable previous research has been undertaken in order to highlight the international significance of the Maltese landscapes. Three criteria to assess the degradation risk are proposed: natural vulnerability, anthropogenic vulnerability and public use. For each criterion, several parameters have been identified in order to propose a detailed numerical evaluation. The results show that the degradation risk of geosites is mainly related to negligence and lack of knowledge of its inherent geological heritage, and which leads to public misuse and mismanagement of the geosites. The results give an overview of the condition of the geosites and provide information for the design and management of suitable protection measures, especially in the light of future threats related to climate change.

Planning for Climate Change Impacts on Geoheritage Interests in Protected and Conserved Areas

“…Its proximity to water and ice bodies such as coasts, rivers and glaciers that are likely to respond strongly to climate change, will be particularly important, although its latitude, longitude, altitude, aspect and slope may also be relevant. Exposure to potentially harmful change is sometimes referred to as a geosite's 'vulnerability' (García-Ortiz et al 2014;Selmi et al 2022), although this term is also used with alternative meanings (Fuertes-Gutiérrez and Fernández-Martínez 2010; Brilha 2016). Whether an environmental change in a PCA will result in a change to a geosite feature or process will depend on how susceptible the feature is to change in its environment.…”

“…Common terminology when defining risk of degradation includes 'sensitivity', 'fragility' and 'vulnerability'. However, these terms have been defined in different ways in different disciplines and in the geoconservation literature (García-Ortiz et al 2014;Selmi et al 2022). To avoid confusion, therefore, we here define risk of degradation, after Wignall et al (2018), as a function of the likelihood of climate change affecting a geosite, or affecting specific geosite features or processes, and the predicted severity of impact on geosite value if change does occur.…”

A multi-hazard historical catalogue for the city-island-state of Malta (Central Mediterranean)

“…For example, increasing incidences of extreme weather with possible resultant increases in, for example, flooding and coastal erosion particularly in areas where Blue Clay crops out at sea level (Ciarlò 2017). Climate change is expected to have significant impacts across Malta including: flooding of coastal areas due to sea-level rise and increasing storminess; drought stress on agriculture and water supplies and extreme weather events with impacts on coasts (including geosites), structures, infrastructure, crops and subsequently human health (Ciarlò 2017;Selmi et al 2022). In the case of the latter, Attard (2015) has found significant impacts are likely on the transport network, critical port and other structures along the coast, all of which contribute significantly to the national economy and play an important role in future national development.…”

“…However, these are not always solely focused on Malta. Elsewhere, Selmi et al (2022) conducted a degradation risk assessment of 27 geosites across the city-island-state to various anthropogenic and natural threats, finding that the threat from climate change and related environmental threats is very acute. Recent research has not only criticised the catalogue of, and policies associated with, pluvial storm flooding, but has also highlighted that Malta is exposed to a much wider range of environmental extremes than has been commonly supposed (Jones 2018;Main et al 2018;Main 2019).…”

Present Climate Change as a Threat to Geoheritage: The Wildfire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park and Its Use in Place-Based Learning

“…Preserving these geosites is crucial for safeguarding geoheritage (as the group of geosites), encompassing scientific, educational, tourism, and other purposes. Geosites can provide crucial evidence of past as well as ongoing climate change [1][2][3][4]. Picture a geosite distinguished by its significant scientific value concerning regional geological changes capable of causing alterations in bedrock lithology or structures spanning millions of years (i.e., the geological time scale).…”