The caves of Finalese karstic area (Finale Ligure, Liguria, North-Western Italy): a project for the coexistence between the touristic activity and the Chiroptera conservation.

The relationship between humans and the environment is one of the most widely discussed and delicate topics facing contemporary society. The intricate balances inherent in certain environments are frequently challenged by human activities. This issue is particularly pronounced in ecologically sensitive locations with frequent human interaction. Hypogean environments maintain consistent environmental conditions that are only compromised by external influences. When these factors become significant, they can disrupt the ecosystem, leading to harm to the local flora and fauna. Bats, habitual inhabitants of subterranean spaces, serve as bioindicators for quantifying environmental alterations. Finale Ligure, situated in northwestern Italy within Liguria, is a prominent tourist destination owing to its favorable climatic conditions, picturesque landscapes, and environmental features. The extensive network of hiking trails facilitates various activities, including trekking, walking, mountain biking, caving, and climbing, providing easy access to hypogean sites. An ordinance issued by the municipality of Finale Ligure in April 2022 restricted access to the hiking network, resulting in a decline in tourist visits. This ongoing study, initiated in 2020 and slated for completion in 2025, seeks to comprehensively characterize the bat populations inhabiting two significant hypogean sites within the Finale karstic region—Arma du Principà and Arma della Pollera. The data collected could establish a correlation between population trends and the extent of anthropogenic impact arising from tourist activities. In conclusion this study aims not only to contribute to our scientific knowledge, but also underlines the imperative of reconciling ecological conservation with human aspirations.