The soil trail of Buscagna Valley, an example of the role of soil science in geodiversity and geoheritage analyses

Soil is a component of geodiversity and, for its scientific value, can also be a component of geoheritage, playing a role in reconstructing the environmental evolution of an area. This assumption will be examined here with special reference to mountain environments, where the high variability of soil forming-factors is responsible for a great variety of soil types, contributing to soil diversity and to local geodiversity. To promote soil as an element of geoheritage, we propose a strategy for creating a trail about soil topics in the Buscagna small mountain catchment in the Veglia–Devero protected area (Lepontine Alps, Italy). Geopedological research carried out in the study area has allowed the identification of seven soil profiles as sites of potential pedological interest along already existing hiking paths. The selected soil profiles mirror the main soil types of the area and testify to past environmental conditions and geomorphic dynamics. Among these, two soil profiles are also selected as pedosites. Providing hikers and mountaineers with a proper key to read exposed soils along the Buscagna Valley, the trail allows an increase in awareness of geoheritage conservation with a focus on soil in mountain landscapes, where soil characteristics reflect the influence of compound forming-factors.