Zagajica hills as an archive of paleoclimatic and paleoecological characteristics and possibilities for geoconservation

Loess-palaeosol sequences represent a unique archive of paleoclimatic and paleoecological changes indicating the dynamics of aeolian accumulation and level of environmental change. Loess plateau of Dumača with Zagajica hills as an integral part of the Banat loess plateau remained relatively unknown up to now, although it represents one of the most distinctive elements of the Vojvodina relief. This paper represents preliminary investigations of the paleoclimatic and paleoecological characteristics of the loess-palaeosol sequences of the Zagajica hills, reflecting a typical variability as recorded in previously investigated sites in the Vojvodina region. Also, presence of the fluvio-denudational relief forms such as dry valleys suggest that investigated area possess distinctive geomorphical values. All the above mentioned features indicate that loess plateau of Dumača with Zagajica hills represents an area of highly pronounced geodiversity values. Thus, GAM was applied in order to evaluate possibility for geotourism development.