IGU - International Geographical Union
UGI - Union Géographique
Internationale
International Workshop
Cultures and Civilisations for Human Development
Rome, Home of Geography
Villa Celimontana
December 12-14, 2005
Earth Sciences, Culture and Sustainable Development
by
Mario Panizza, Italy <panima26@mail.unimore.it>
Re: Session 3 Nature, culture, and sustainable development
Introduction
In present-day society, where environmental problems are pressing, Earth sciences occupy a
marginal role, which is hardly justified considering the importance that they have, have had and will
have in the development of life and society. It is therefore necessary to find new ways for
improving awareness and communication, also by means of winning and attractive topics.
The landscape is a “cultural” component of a territory, with all the “natural” and
“anthropogenic” factors it contains. All relationships between “natural” aspects and history of
mankind should also be included in the concept of culture, with the various interactions between
them. One could refer to reciprocal conditioning, such as the Andes and the Inca civilization, or the
Nile and the ancient Egyptians. Reference should be made also to risks (geo-hazards x
vulnerability) and related environmental impacts (geo-resources x man activity), such as Vesuvius
with ancient Pompeii (volcanic risk) or Venice lagoon with its tremendous tourist pressure (man
impact). Finally, also the perspectives of land conservation and appraisal – in terms of development
and sustainability – should be properly assessed. For example, resource exploitation in relation to
the prospects of future generations, i.e. in terms of sustainable development.
Dark geomorphology
Recent history has been characterised by disarray processes such as landslides, floods,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and others which have caused the loss of human lives and
considerable damage to economic activities (Alexander, 1990; Rosenfeld, 2004).
Of these, geomorphological phenomena such as landslides, floods, fluvial or coastal erosion,
avalanches etc. make up a considerable percentage. Some of these disasters are related to natural
causes, whereas others are linked to or aggravated by man, in terms of both vulnerability and
activity (Panizza, 2005).
To what extent have indiscriminate progress, unauthorised building, excessive exploitation
of natural resources, inadequate disaster forecasting services and lack of regulatory laws contributed
to this situation? This is a complex problem which cannot be generalised. Our society is full of
contradictions: the development and economic resources now available to the masses are of
fundamental importance but they cannot justify policies which neglect the safeguard of the
environment, observance of the law and prevention of calamities.
Cultural geomorphology
The relationships between geology/geomorphology and the cultural elements of a specific
territory can be considered schematically according to two reciprocally-integrated viewpoints
(Panizza & Piacente, 2003).
Geology/Geomorphology is then meant as a component of a territory’s cultural heritage (in
a broad sense), like works of art, historical monuments, scientific assets etc.
The relationships between some cultural components (in a strict sense) of a territory
(archaeological, historical, architectonic assets etc.) and the geological/geomorphological context in
which they are inserted.
As a result of these statements, a need was felt to propose a definition of Cultural
Geomorphology (Panizza & Piacente, 2003):
the discipline studying the geomorphological component of a territory which embodies both
a cultural feature of the landscape and its interactions with cultural heritage of the archaeological,
historical, architectonic etc. type.
The concept of Cultural Geomorphology can be extended to all the fields of Earth Sciences
and can therefore introduce the concept of Cultural Geology (Panizza & Piacente, 2003). This is
based on the two concepts of Geodiversity (Sharples, 1993; Dixon, 1996; Piacente, 2003;
Zwolinski, 2004) and Geohistory (Panizza & Piacente, 2003; Pralong, 2004). The former is
considered as the substratum of unique landscapes and the basis of life varieties on the Earth. The
latter is considered in its spatial-temporal relationships with other cultural components and is a
conditioning factor in the history of human society. Both these concepts make up a value and
therefore an inalienable heritage for all countries and peoples of the world.
The cultural approach of Geomorphology (in a broad sense) concerns the dialogue and
cultural integration between humanistic and scientific disciplines. For example, one could refer to
an integrated research over a given territory with the purpose of analysing the various relationships
concerning environmental context, evolution of anthropic activities, technological and socioeconomic problems and sustainable development.
Generally speaking, an effort should be made to give an answer to the ever-felt need for
“neo-humanistic” culture, that is for the integration of culture (Panizza, 1989).