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Report of the meeting of the Working Group "Geomorphological sites"
This meeting was the first occasion to discuss several aspects that could be of interest for the working group "Geomorphological sites". E. Reynard, co-ordinator of the WG, thanked all the participants who took part to the meeting. E.M. Latrubesse (Bra) and M. Hurtado (Arg) could not attend the meeting. The co-ordinator of the meeting did not receive any news from G. Martini (Fra) and D. Barretino Fraile (Spain) since the beginning of the activities. He will contact them again in order to know their position. E. Reynard made firstly a general presentation of the paper that was presented in 2001 at Tokyo for the proposition of a WG on the topic of geomorphological sites. He also presented the "history" of the WG creation. 2. Objectives and fields of research In the paper presented at Tokyo, four fields of research were proposed. These fields were discussed and the following propositions were made: Knowledge and assessment of geomorphological sites
Conservation and legal status of geomorphological sites Monica Auteri suggested that the different laws concerning geosites should be referenced. The collect of this type of information comes up against the regular modifications of national laws. It is very hard to have a correct documentation. The proposition was therefore not adopted. Education about geomorphological processes and landforms The problem of education is a recurrent issue in geology and geomorphology. But this question is highly related to each national system of education. In conclusion, education is a too large field of research for the Working Group and is not adopted. Tourist attractivity of geomorphological sites For Sandra Piaccente, tourist attractivity already takes place in the research about assessment of geomorphological sites. There is no need for the Working Group to consider tourist attractivity as a major and individual field of research. 3. Organisation and distribution of the activities
Several practical aspects were also discussed: Secretary Paola Cortza, University of Modena, was suggested to be the secretary of the Working Group. The various lists of people related to the Working Group and the documentation will be centralised in Modena. Documentation It was proposed to create a booklet with the references coming from the COFIN, the Center of Documentation on Geosites of Genova and the Institute of Geography of Lausanne. The booklet could also be published in the form of a CD-rom to annex to the proceedings of the Modena workshop. The Working Group could give a financial support for this publication. S. Piacente (organiser of the workshop) and E. Reynard (co-ordinator of the WG) will prepare a concrete project. Website
Currently, the Working Group has not its own website. It is partly hosted by the website of the Institute of Geography of the University of Lausanne (www.unil.ch/igul/) and by the IAG website (www.geomorph.org/). A first proposition was made to create an individual website, to be hosted, for example by the Centro Documentazione Geositi of Genova (G. Brancucci).
Encyclopedia of Geomorphology Emmanuel Reynard has to write a definition of geosites for the Encyclopedia of Geomorphology, published by the International Association of Geomorphologists (Ed. A. Goudie). Each member of the Working Work can send to E. Reynard his/her main references about geosites (propositions and definitions). This should be done before the beginning of August 2002. Members of the Working Group
Two types of members are accepted in the WG: general members and corresponding members. There is no fee for attending the WG.
Logo A logo was made for the Working Group by Milena Bertacchini (Modena). E. Reynard thanked her for the great quality of this work. The logo can be used for meetings or publications made by members of the Working Group in the area of geomorphological sites. For each use, members should advise E. Reynard. Poster and flyer
A flyer will be realised about the activities of the Working group. It could be sent or distributed by the members when they are making presentations, public lectures or when they are attending conferences or workshops. The flyer will be realised by E. Reynard (content) and M. Bertacchini (layout) as soon as possible.
4. Next meetings A proposition for a general meeting in october 2003 in Sardegna was made. E. Reynard will contact A. Ulzega and F. Di Gregorio (Cagliari) and V. Panizza (Sassari) in order to discuss a concrete proposition. The meeting should be organised on the same model as the Modena meeting (workshop, administrative meeting, field trip). A second meeting should also be organised in Lausanne (Switzerland) in spring 2003. It should be an administrative meeting with few people. A decision about this meeting should be taken before the end of 2002. The Geological Conference in Firenze in August 2004 will be the occasion to prepare the organisation of the International Conference on Geomorphology taking place in Saragoza in 2005. Saragoza will be the last meeting of the Working Group, where the final expected products could be presented. 5. Varia E. Reynard announced a workshop about geotopes that will take place in Bad Ragaz (Switzerland), in May 2003. Website (before 15.10.02) Mario Panizza stressed the fact that there will be several workshops and excursions on geomorphology during the geological conference of Firenze. As the first circular has been published (www.32igc.org), all the members should express their interest for one or more geomorphological topics, especially in the T.14.1 session (before 31.08.02) Finally, E. Reynard thanked again S. Piacente, M. Panizza and P. Coratza, and all their team in Modena, for the perfect organisation of the workshop and for the their friendly "italian" welcome! The meeting concluded by a lunch offered by the italian hosts.
Lausanne, July 2nd 2002
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