The paper presents the results of recent geoarchaeological studies on the Ticino river alluvial plain. The sedimentological descriptions are combined with archaeological observations and constrained with radiocarbon dating. This approach, together with data from previous research and historical sources, provides an interesting overview of the eveolution of Ticino river morphosedimentary dynamics in relation to human settlements since the Neolithic.

The Monte Crenone rock avalanche of 1513 is well known on the southern side of the Alps because in 1515 it generated the largest inundation that has occurred in Switzerland in the Common Era, the Buzza di Biasca. New geological and historical observations allowed the setup of a numerical model of this major event, permitting a better definition of the chain of consequences that affected the alluvial plain of the river Ticino from Biasca to Lake Maggiore between the 16th and the 19th century.

Soil quality depends on water availability for plants. Sandy soils with a poorly permeable layer (fragipan) are considered inept for agriculture. However they are cultivated in Namibia as they secure a minimum harvest during droughts. In order to understand the hydrological influence of fragipans in these soils, soil moisture content was measured. The results illustrate that the combination of sandy topsoil and shallow fragipan has beneficial effects on plant-available water during dry periods.

In the field of regional geo-heritage promotion, this paper presents some opportunities, challenges and risks for geotope protection and geotourism.

In Friulanischen Gebirgsdörfern, die durch starke Abwanderung (teilweise) wüst gefallen waren (Geisterdörfer), führt pionierhafte Zuwanderung von Landwirten, Remigranten, Künstlern, Selbständigen etc. zu Revitalisierung und Erhalt der alpinen Kulturlandschaft und zu innovativen Strukturen wie New Farming. Besonders multilokal lebende Personen sind ausschlaggebend für die aktuelle Aufwertung: Hier für das Aupatal nachgewiesen, ist dies in den meisten alpinen Peripherräumen bereits beobachtbar.

In diesem Editorial begründen wir die intellektuelle Agenda, die dem Themenheft «German Theory» zugrunde liegt. Um diese mit anglophonen, aber auch anderen (frankophonen, lusophonen) Theoriediskussionen ins Gespräch zu bringen, möchten wir aus der deutschsprachigen Geistesgeschichte entstandene Denkstile bewusster, autonomer, aber auch dialogischer in den Blick nehmen, in internationale Theoriedebatten einbringen, und so für eine Pluralität von Denkstilen werben.

The study is a geomorphological analysis of Djebel Dahar, in south-eastern Tunisia, carried out as the basis for a UNESCO Global Geopark. We made a synthesis of the geographical, geological and geomorphological context of the area, proposed a delimitation for the future geopark, based on geological and geomorphological characteristics, and established a preliminary list of geosites, indicating their scientific value and their potential for geotourism.

The ideologies and policies that underpin modern state citizenship are not only fundamentally misogynous and racist, but they also are transversal to the extent that they legitimate the active transformation of bodies into instruments moulded to the needs of the nation state. The Black Mediterranean offers us scope to consider ongoing negotiations within these instrumental confines while also showing us the path towards alternate futures.

Im Sinne einer feministischen wissenschaftskritischen Intervention, formuliere ich in diesem Beitrag zwei Impulse für eine intersektionalen bevölkerungsgeographische Wissensproduktion über reproduktive Ungleichheiten. Dazu mobilisiere ich das von Schwarzen Feministinnen entwickelte Konzept der reproductive justice.

The demographic dividend (DD) is one of the most important concepts within development cooperation. It was high time that the concept of the DD was put under scrutiny. Our findings reveal that simplistic demographic explanations for economic growth are appealing to political leaders and decision makers. We argue that the promotion of the DD to decision makers works as a low-level vehicle to achieve support for broader sets of multi-sectoral policies, which we call a positive demographization.