Landslide-geomorphosite assessment in the Dolomites (Italy): Application of a newly implemented method

This paper aims at the definition of new geoheritage criteria to identify and assess landslides as geomorphosites. As first application of a newly implemented methodological approach, we propose a comparative evaluation of landslide geomorphosites in the Dolomites, north-eastern Italy. We quantitatively assess each site by using standard criteria well-established in geoheritage studies and newly defined ones related to risk perception, anthropic signature, and climate change. These new criteria aid in defining the most useful geomorphosites for educating visitors regarding themes such as landslide hazard and risk, the consequences of human activities on landslide triggering and development, and landslide activity in response to warming climatic conditions. In previous studies, geomorphosite assessment was not performed for landforms of one kind as opposed to any kinds of landforms within a specific geographic area. For the first time, we analyse a landform of a kind – namely landslides, as geomorphosites in a defined region, using old and newly defined criteria that can be applied to a variety of other landforms. Our methodology highlights the scientific importance of the definition of landslides as geomorphosites, emphasises how their consequences on human activities and the environment can be disseminated to the public, and can be applied for geomorphosite assessment of any other geomorphological landform.