GEODIVERSITY AND GEOHERITAGE IN THE CHIUSELLA VALLEY (N-W ITALIAN ALPS): GEOTOURISM AS A PROSPECT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

With its captivating landscapes and rich geodiversity, the Chiusella Valley (Piemonte region, NW Italy) shows a high potential for geotourism as leading activity for the sustainable development of the area. In fact, within only 143 km2 of surface, the Chiusella Valley is a remarkable window into the orogenetic processes that modeled the Alps. Despite its high potential for geotouristic development, the Chiusella Valley can be considered a rural area, with low-density population and main economic activities of the primary sector. In order to enhance the geodiversity and the geoheritage of the area, a map with the best sites of geological interest (geosites) has been produced. The sites have been selected according to the geological interest, the educational value, and accessibility. In the second phase of the investigation, the Geosites Assessment Methods (Vujičić et al., 2011) has been applied. For each resulting geosite, a descriptive card has been with the intention of developing educational and informative panels that laypeople can understand. The identified geosites may be reached via a variety of routes, negating the need to construct new pathways and minimizing the negative environmental effects of the activities required to grow the geotourism industry in the region. The creation of geotourism in the Chiusella Valley shows socio-economic and environmental benefits, including job creation, community empowerment, and conservation efforts. Additionally, it is crucial to involve local stakeholders and communities in the development and execution of geotourism programs in order to guarantee their long-term success and observance of sustainable principles. The Chiusella Valley may realize its potential as a hub for sustainable development by embracing rural geotourism and making the most of its geodiversity, promoting economic growth while safeguarding its natural and cultural heritage for future generations. It is important to involve the local communities in the development process, maintaining the traditional activities and generating new possibilities for employment linked to the geotourism. The presence of new local activities can help reduce the depopulation problem and the daily commute to the main city centres outside the border of the Chiusella Valley. However, it is important to inform the local population that cutting down on long automobile trips and encouraging carpooling within the valley's boundaries can reduce local pollution, protect the environment, and promote the sustainability of geotourism-related activities.