soil protection (general information)

Vienna Soil Declaration

soil functions

sustainability criteria

degradation and control processes

soil protection criteria

soil quality indicators

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Soil Series and Soil Types catalogue of Catalonia

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criteria

soil Types (> 2010)

soil Series (1993 - 2009)

DEGRADATION AND CONTROL PROCESSES

Degradation process:

Desertification.

The final stage of degradation processes in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid regions results in a total loss of soil that prevents the progression of vegetation. This is due to over-exploitation and inappropriate land use.

Importance: great in arid and semi-arid regions.

Soil functions affected:

Biomass production, (reduction or destruction of the biological potential and primary productivity), environmental functions (transformations, filtration), hydrological function, reduction of carbon sequestration, functions to prevent offsite effects, such as sediment deposition in floods and the silting up of dam and reservoirs.

Diagnostic criteria:

Physical appearance of the area. Indicators of desertification.

                                             Click on the image

Badlands on calcilutite: erosion has eliminated the soil and
left an exposed rock surface, which impedes revegetation;
this is an early stage of desertification.
Centelles (J. Porta)

Prevention and control:

Use of indicators to identify the process at stages in which action is still possible. It is necessary to study the causes of desertification in each particular case in order to adopt a holistic approach to the application of preventative measures. This requires coordination on an international scale and long term commitments.

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