Interconnecting karst dolines with high ecological value through tourist routes for enhancing public recreation

Planning technical interventions in areas of high landscape and environmental importance requires the convergence of integrated multiple skills. Particularly when these areas find significant opportunities for tourist valorization, this planning activity is extremely important and requires an appropriate technical approach. With the aim to enhance public recreation in the rural land, in this paper, some areas of peculiar environmental, landscape and archaeological value - such as the karst dolines (in Italian, so-called: “Puli“) – have been analyzed. This type of karst formation originated as a result of the collapse of the vault of underground cavities, excavated by the erosive and corrosive action of water infiltrating the limestone substrata. Through the implementation of a GIS tool, some touristic routes, connecting three different „Puli“ located in the Apulia region (Southern Italy), have been examined. These three areas are very interesting as for their historical-archaeological value and their geological nature, as well as for their naturalistic assets - both faunal and botanical biodiversity, including several ecosystems. The final results coming from this research may support in sustainably enhancing public recreation in the rural landscape along specific touristic routes, helping to assess the environmental and social impact of tourism activities along those trails as well.