Geo-hydrological risk mitigation measures and land-management in a highly vulnerable small coastal catchment

On 25 October 2011 very intense rainfall affected a wide area between eastern Liguria and northern Tuscany (NW Italy) causing thousands of landslides and floods. The Vernazza catchment (Cinque Terre) suffered very severe damages that affected both the road network and the historical village of Vernazza, where a disastrous debris flood occurred. After the disaster, in the framework of the land management of the Vernazza municipality, some local structural works aimed to secure the exposed buildings and roads, have been carried out by emergency procedure. This paper describes the different executed works, affecting only problematic slopes and stream segments. It is believed that geo-hydrological risk mitigation measures able to ensure long-term effects are needed at basin scale. Detailed studies aimed to hazard assessment and to the evaluation of vulnerable areas are required for the choice of proper risk mitigation strategies. Considering the high environmental and cultural value of Cinque Terre, characterized by a man-made terraced landscape, that currently is mainly abandoned, the issue of sustainable land management can be crucial both for risk mitigation and socio-economic development.