Several factors and processes, both natural and anthropogenic, can threaten the integrity of any geosite, leading to their degradation. For this reason, geoheritage degradation risks should be considered a fundamental step in any geoconservation strategy, all the more when the aim is to tackle the effects of climate change. The present work proposes a quantitative methodology for the degradation risk assessment of geosites by considering the extrinsic factors that can damage the geoheritage. The methodology has been tested on the Maltese Islands, where considerable previous research has been undertaken in order to highlight the international significance of the Maltese landscapes. Three criteria to assess the degradation risk are proposed: natural vulnerability, anthropogenic vulnerability and public use. For each criterion, several parameters have been identified in order to propose a detailed numerical evaluation. The results show that the degradation risk of geosites is mainly related to negligence and lack of knowledge of its inherent geological heritage, and which leads to public misuse and mismanagement of the geosites. The results give an overview of the condition of the geosites and provide information for the design and management of suitable protection measures, especially in the light of future threats related to climate change.

The recognition, selection and quantitative assessment of sites of geological and geomorphological interest are fundamental steps in any environmental management focused on geoconservation and geotourism promotion. The island of Malta, in the central Mediterranean Sea, despite having a steadily increasing growth in population and tourism, still conserves geological and geomorphological features of great relevance and interest, both for their contribution to the understanding of the geological processes acting through time on landscape and for their aesthetic importance. The present work proposes an inventory for northern Malta, through three main stages, with the outcome of a final list of geosites that have the potential to be recognized as both natural heritage and tourist resources with potential economic benefits. In particular, the assessment methodology applied combines scientific value and additional and use-values, showing the links existing between geoheritage and other aspects of nature and culture of the sites. The results provide useful knowledge for the definition of strategies aimed at the development of a sustainable and responsible tourism.

Over the past 25 years, geoconservation studies and interest in geoheritage have grown significantly. However, the assessment of degradation risks associated with geosites remains less explored. This aspect is crucial for the effective management and conservation of geosites, which face pressure from natural and human factors. In many countries, geosites are at risk of degradation or loss due to the lack of a systematic inventory and inadequate management. Therefore, evaluating and monitoring degradation risks is a priority for the scientific community. Common investigation schemes and approaches for recognizing and preventing threats to geosites are still lacking. This paper presents the first systematic literature review on degradation risk and related terms. Through an extensive search of widely used literature databases, 130 papers were selected and analyzed. The findings highlight a growing focus on quantitative approaches for the assessment of geoheritage degradation risk, with most research conducted at local scales, while identifying climate change as an underexplored yet critical factor. Future priorities include refining spatial and temporal scales, understanding degradation processes, and fostering global collaboration to improve conservation strategies.

The paper presents a geomorphological map of the north-eastern coast of the Island of Gozo (Malta) integrating inland and offshore areas at the scale 1:15,000. The map derives from the integration of different methods, such as aerial photo interpretation, field surveys and analysis of seafloor bathymetry. The landforms identified on land were shaped by coastal, fluvial, karst and gravity-induced processes, and some of them prolong on the seafloor. Most of the submerged landforms appear to have been modelled in subaerial conditions during sea-level lowstands, having been sealed by the rising sea in post-glacial times. Two sketches accompany the Main Map showing the type and distribution of coastal geomorphotypes and the land cover of the area.

The island of Malta, despite its small size, boasts a great variety of landscapes and landforms, offering a wide range of geological and geomorphological features of great interest. The identification and assessment of geosites can contribute to the preservation, protection, and promotion of this rich geodiversity. In addition, geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus also contributing to the development of the local economy. Tourism plays a key role for the Maltese Islands, with Malta’s tourism direct contribution to GDP being among the highest in Europe. Thus, geotourism could represent a significant resource for Malta, though it has yet to receive the attention and recognition it deserves. Within this framework, this work aims to highlight the role of geoheritage and geotourism as potential resources for the enhancement of sustainable tourism and geoconservation in the southern sector of Malta. This region of Malta receives less visitors compared with the northern sector of the island, which is popular for its sandy beaches. To this end, potential geosites were inventoried and quantitatively assessed using a commonly applied methodology tailored to the local setting. The results of this evaluation let to identify 18 potential geosites that can be recognized as both parts of the Maltese natural heritage and tourist resources. Among these 18 sites, we identified four priority geosites which could be incorporated into a potential geotourism route to also highlight the valuable elements of the cultural heritage located in the vicinity. Moreover, the assessment methodology, applied for the first time in the investigated area, has proven to be a valuable support for geosite identification and can be extended to other Maltese regions.

Keywords: monitoring, criteria, degradation, geoheritage, Vale de Meios, PortugalMonitoring is one of the main stages in geoconservation strategies, essential to guaranteegeoheritage sustainability. Nevertheless, few studies focus on geoheritage monitoring techniquesand methods, unlike the multitude of works focusing on procedures to inventory and assess thevalue of geosites. Moreover, criteria used in these methods can be applied on monitoringprocedures, specifically those supporting degradation risk and scientific value quantitativeassessments. In this context, a geoheritage monitoring model is being applied in Vale de Meios(Alcanede, Portugal), an abandoned limestone quarry with well-preserved Middle JurassicTheropod footprints, inside the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. This geosite waspreviously assessed for its scientific value and vulnerability and it is included in the Portugueseinventory of geoheritage with national and international relevance. A set of “scientific value” and“degradation risk/vulnerability” criteria were reviewed to assess the degradation of the geositeand used to identify the most suitable monitoring model. The “integrity” criterium used in mostmethods to assess the scientific value of geosites, also credited as “conservation status”, is strictlyconnected with the deterioration of the geoheritage elements in the past and present, whiledegradation risk is normally referring to the threats and potential losses in the future. Fourteen“degradation risk” assessment sub-criteria (intrinsic active processes, deterioration of geologicalelements, size, extrinsic active processes, proximity to active processes, economic potential,collectible elements potential, protection status, proximity to human activities, accessibility,population density, visitor facilities, degradation by public use, and visitation control) can bedistributed by the main criteria fragility, natural vulnerability, anthropic vulnerability, and publicuse. A detailed analysis of the criteria and the specific characteristics of each geosite support thedefinition of suitable monitoring indicators. In the Vale de Meios geosite, monitoring actionsshould primarily consider: active natural process, deterioration of geological elements,accessibility, visitor facilities, degradation by public use, and visitation control in order to definethe monitoring indicators. An analysis of the conservation status over the past decades has beencarried out, using time indicators of deterioration. Long-term monitoring results will provide moredata about the geoheritage degradation though partial data show that in Vale de Meios the mainconcern is related with the high natural vulnerability of the Theropod footprints, which areexposed to natural erosion. Despite the protection status of the area and design of a plan forvisitation control measures, conservation procedures should prioritize physical protectioninitiatives in the geosite management strategies.