Bringing geoheritage underwater: Definitions, methods, and application in two Mediterranean marine areas

Within the definition given by UNESCO of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, geoheritage finds its significance both as the geological or geomorphological elements of nature worthy of conservation and as habitat of threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. Definitions, methods, and applications for the conservation and valorization of geoheritage have been proposed for various types of environments, but their application in underwater areas is seldom, if even, reported. In this study, we propose a set of definitions and methods for the evaluation of scientific and additional values in underwater environment, and we apply them in two Mediterranean areas: Sigri (Greece, Lesvos Island) and Bergeggi (Italy, Liguria region). Results show the applicability of the schemes proposed in different geological and geomorphological settings and provide tools for the evaluation of abiotic underwater heritage in the two areas. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.