The Role of E-Bike in Discovering Geodiversity and Geoheritage

Abstract

This study analyzed the challenges and benefits of the identification and promotion of a long-distance cycleway in high mountain areas with the aim of promoting Alpine eco- and geo-tourism. We also investigated the role of e-biking in discovering local geodiversity and geoheritage in a sustainable way. In particular, we focused on the path from Bormio to the Forni Glacier (Upper Valtellina, Italy), analyzed within the framework of the “E-bike” Interreg project. We performed a detailed analysis to select the points of environmental–geological interest (POIs), with a focus on geoheritage sites to increase the knowledge of the natural heritage of the area. Since these sites are widespread in the study area, within the frame of the “E-bike” project, we selected only the most exemplary ones, covering a wide spectrum of attractions, from a moving geosite (i.e., landslide) to a paradigmatic example of the effects of climate change (glacier). The “E-bike” path represents in its entirety a great opportunity to visit mountain and high-mountain landscapes, even for inexperienced mountain bikers, and to enjoy places rich in naturalistic and cultural values. Our interdisciplinary approach allows visitors to identify the sites of interest and export the structure of the project in different environmental and human contexts.

Climate Change and Geotourism: Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…Enhancing conservation measures and the attenuation of glacier retreat include the experimental application of artificial covers to reduce ablation [50,[162][163][164][165][166] and legal protection for glaciers [50]. The former is essentially impractical at scale and in terms of economics; the latter aims partly to protect glaciers from other human impacts such as mining that, inter alia, might reduce tourist appeal [167], but does not really address the root cause of the problem (anthropogenic global warming) [50].…”

“…Diversification activities include the development of museums and exhibition/interpretation centres, as in Norway and the Alps [70,72,[168][169][170][171]; boat tours in Iceland and boat tours and fixed-wing and helicopter scenic flights and glacier landings in New Zealand [66,67,69]; rafting and canyoning [172]; e-bike tours [162]; and the use of digital tools and virtual tours [173][174][175][176]. There are also opportunities to diversify as new destinations emerge (e.g., as the extent of sea ice recedes in the Arctic and Antarctic), but these may present ecological and environmental risks [177,178], and some adaptations may not be sustainable such as the increasing use of fixed-wing and helicopter flights over New Zealand glaciers [179].…”

Outdoor River Activities: Relations with Geological Background and Extreme Events in the Perspective of Geoeducation

“…Outdoor activities and geoscience's dissemination may finally allow to reach, as discussed briefly in the Introduction, some of the main Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) listed by United Nation, and summarized in Table 5. Concerning the activities with youths based on georafting [28], geocanyoning, geotrekking, geoclimbing (e.g., [15]), as well as geobiking [20], for instance, may favour the achievement of SDGs n. 3, 4, and 11, granting wellness, awareness of natural resource values, and involving people in acquiring scientific contents also related to natural hazards. In this sense, the awareness about climate change effects (SDG 13) could be acquired through such activities, as demonstrated in our study case where extreme events, such as the 2020 one, could be explained in the context of a global change.…”

“…This practice is named geoclimbing [15] and is based on the influence of geology and geomorphology on climbing styles (i.e., types of holds) and difficulty degrees. In other situations, the introduction of e-bikes, furthermore, allow practitioners of such sports to explore georesources, as shown by Senese et al [20] in the E-Bike project, even if the link between the outdoor experience and the geofeatures is not so strong and immediate to perceive. According to some authors [18,19], outdoor activities, being very involving, may have a high geoeducation potential for communicating and explaining geodiversity and Earth's history [16,19] and to induce forms of place-based learning, as suggested for young generations by Gordon et al [6].…”

The Hosta’s Labyrinth on the Black Sea Shore: A Case Study of “Selling” Geosites to the Lay Public

“…This geosite can be attributed to the engineering type because it represents a process of long-term land sliding. It should be noted that several geosites related to mass wasting have already been reported from different countries [46][47][48][49][50]. Additionally, the limestones of the Kazachebrodskaya Formation constitute a sedimentary type, and the furrow represents both tectonic (a weak zone and a possible minor fault) and geomorphological phenomena (in which case, the geosite is also a geomorphosite sensu [51][52][53][54][55]).…”