T20. Geomorphology in the Anthropocene: from human-landscape interaction to geoheritage management issues

Geoheritage sites are key component of the cultural heritage, closely linked to human activities that may undergo degradation as a result of anthropogenic pressure on the landscape. Indeed, their own genetic processes could be responsible of geoheritage degradation (i.e., fragility), but also external processes (i.e., vulnerability), being natural or human derived. This evolution may be particularly fastened also by changing climatic conditions. In detail, anthropic impact is able both to directly or indirectly modify and/or deplete and damage geoheritage. Modifications of the physical landscape can indeed derive from the human influence on surface processes dynamic, that may induce variations in the natural evolution rate of landforms, considered geoheritage sites when having a relevant scientific value. In very sensitive environments, then, landscapes and ecosystems are rapidly evolving in response to climate changes and the anthropic activities could be even more significative. This session seeks interdisciplinary contributes and specific case-studies that deploy various approaches and tools to investigate the human-landscape interaction, both in altering geomorphological process rates and landforms, and in mapping, promoting and managing geoheritage sites through innovative methodologies.