New Geosites Inventory for Geoconservation and Geotourism Improvement in Alagna Valsesia, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy)

Geoheritage is an important resource for modern society, and the inventory of geosites is an increasingly crucial element to encourage geoconservation actions and foster the sustainable development of an area. The present paper offers an analysis aimed at assessing 25 potential geosites in Alagna Valsesia, an alpine area within the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (NW Italy), both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative assessment was performed using a descriptive form created for a project to catalog the geosites of the Piemonte Region, focusing on the scientific, aesthetic, conservation, and tourism relevance of the geoheritage elements. Statistical analysis of the new inventory, using both qualitative and quantitative assessments, has enabled a more detailed classification of the geosites and an understanding of benefits and limitations of both methodologies. We find that for a comprehensive territorial strategy, the qualitative and quantitative methods are complementary. The qualitative approach aids geoconservation with detailed geosite descriptions, benefiting spatial managers and geoparks, and the quantitative method enables objective comparisons, supporting regional geotourism development.