Rischi naturali e restauro ambientale nelle aree antropizzate

Abstract

Geo-environmental problems in the Campanian area which may explain its recent geological evolution, and the role palyed by anthropic activity in the modifying the landscapes are considered. Environmental geology - a discipline erroneously disregarded up to recent years - is the tool for identifying geological hazards (e.g. earthquakes, landslides, water pollution, etc.) and for seeking the correct solution against such risks. Some significant geoenvironmental situations (e.g. the Natural Arc of Palinuro in the Cilento area, the Sorrento-Amatfi Peninsula and the central part of the Apennines Chain) are taken as examples. Anthropic intervention in such zones has either been positive (e.g. the terracing of the Amalfi-Sorrento Peninsula) or negative (such as in the case of the Palinuro coastal area) or even dangerous from an antiseismic point of view as in the case of the Apenninic area). In particular, terraces built on the flanks of the Sorrento-Amalfi Peninsula since the 11th century A.D. stabilize the pyroclastic sediments on which not renewable highly fertile sols developed. The Palinuro Natural Arc, which had been preserved by a large sandy beach up to a few ten years ago, is now exposed to wave action because the beach has largely been eroded and interventions of land restoration should be made to protect the important geomorphological feature. In the central Apennines - a seismically active zone - present antiseismic regulations should be updated and construction in this area should take into account the actual geological hazard deriving from the geological, hydrogeological and technical characters of the exposed terranes, as well as from the presence of seismogenic faults and active tectonic features.