Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Park
both of which
are key components of its heritage. The Authority also
recognised the need to address the enhancement of geotou-
rism to bene
'
s geological and biological diversity
—
economic relations in parallel with environmental education
and within a framework that embraces all the natural ele-
ments of the area. The Geopark activities therefore include
intangible projects
where the geological heritage is the
prevailing topic.
t the local communities in the Park area.
The following topics are discussed:
Scienti
c interpretation of geological heritage and geosites;
6.1.1 Environmental Education
Every year the Park Authority offers educational courses
(named
Cultural initiatives to popularize and disseminate the
geological concepts to increase the awareness of local
populations on the importance of preservation and pro-
tection of their geoheritage;
Between Environment and Tradition: Knowledge,
Skills and Actions
“
) for primary and secondary schools. The
programme includes excursions and educational trails
assisted by the Geopark Guides, activities promoting the
understanding and knowledge of landscapes and environ-
ments in the protected area, and initiatives on the tradition
and culture of the Apuan territory.
”
Increase and improve geotourism for sustainable local
economic development.
To achieve these objectives, agreements and memoranda
of understanding have been signed with associations, fed-
erations and agencies for the protection, promotion and/or
economic development of infrastructures linked to the Ap-
uan geological heritage.
The updating of scienti
6.1.2 Publications
The Park Authority is publishing its own scienti
c interpretation of the geological
processes observed in the Apuan Alps is ensured through
cooperation with universities and other research institutions. In
2010, the Apuan Alps Park Authority signed a
c journal
Acta apuana
once a year. It contains articles re
ecting the
technical and scienti
c daily experience of the Park staff and
the studies of scientists working in the Apuan Alps. The
Memorandum
of Understanding on the development of geological knowl-
edge and the protection and enhancement of the geodiversity
of Apuan Alps
“
elds investigated are broad. However, given the prominence
that geology plays in the Apuan Alps, the journal has always
offered priority to Earth Sciences studies.
Acta apuana
also
published two supplements based on the proceedings of the
2001 Workshop
with the National Research Council of Italy,
Institute for Geosciences and Earth Resources, the Centre for
Geo-technologies of the Siena University and with the Earth
Sciences Department of Pisa University. The Geopark coop-
erates with ISPRA to optimize the
”
“
Geosites, between nature enhancement and
preservation
”
(Acta apuana
2005
,
2010
). Other monographs
ling of geosites and
standardize the geosite indexing of the Italian territory.
Among other partnership initiatives are agreements with
the Tuscan Speleological Federation promoting protection
and scienti
of the scienti
c journal have been dedicated to archaeological
and archaeometric studies on the excavation and use of Ap-
uan metalimestones during the pre-Roman, Roman and
Medieval periods (Acta apuana
2004
,
2007
). Park Authority
publications also include guides describing categories of
biotic and abiotic phenomena of the Apuan Alps. At
c and cultural management of the Apuan Alps
karst environments, with the Environmental Protection
Agency of the Tuscany Region (ARPAT) and with the
Alpine Club of Italy.
Regarding actions with a potential economic impact,
since 2009 the Apuan Alps Park Authority has been devel-
oping the
Being Green
project, aimed at promoting a unique
geological resource, the
rst, this
series of publications was mainly devoted to botanical topics,
with individual volumes covering the
owers, mushrooms,
orchids and medicinal plants of the Apuan territory. In 2009,
the
rst geological guide was issued, entitled
“
Marble min-
erals of the Apuan Alps
(Orlandi and Criscuolo
2009
). The
guide provides a comprehensive account of the mineralogical
heritage preserved in metalimestones and metabreccias that
are subject to traditional quarrying.
With the aim of explaining how popular tradition has
tried to understand and hand down, through legends, the
suggestive and evocative features of the Apuan mountains,
an illustrated book, the
”
Marble. This is a green
stone of great beauty with its own rich historical heritage.
The project aims to start the limited extraction of this
decorative stone and to produce high quality pieces in a
short-chain context in the Cardoso Valley (Stazzema
Municipality). This activity should be part of the wider
tourist experience, and be integrated with the natural and
historical environment of the area.
“
Cipollino
”
, has
been published in three languages (Italian, English and
German). It contains legends about six main peaks and
important geosites of the Apuan range and represents a short
treatise on the
“
Legends of the Apuan Alps
”
6.1
Intangible Assets
that enhances the
culture and the traditions of local inhabitants and their
ancestral relationships with the sacred nature of the most
important peaks.
“
ethnology of geosites
”
The Park Authority has always been engaged in the pro-
motion of tourism and in strengthening cultural and socio-
