Human impacts on karst environment : a case study from Central Styria

Pure and applied karst geomorphology

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

BAUER, C.

Inst. of Geography and Regional Science, Univ., Graz, Autriche

KELLERER-PIRKLBAUER, A.

Inst. of Geography and Regional Science, Univ., Graz, Autriche

DE WAELE, J.

Dep. of Earth Sciences and Environmental Geology, Italian Inst. of Speleology, Univ., Bologna, Italie

FILIPPONI, M.

Swiss Federal Inst of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Suisse

GUTIÉRREZ, F.

Dep. of Earth Sciences, Univ., Zaragoza, Espagne

PARISE, M.

National Research Council - Inst. of Research for the Hydrogeological Protection, Italie

PLAN, L.

Natural History Museum, Karst and Cave, Vienna, Autriche

Description :
This paper focuses on different types of human impacts on a ca. 1,000 km2 large karstified environment in central Styria, Austria (Central Styrian Karst/CSK). A series of different types of human impacts affect at present and have affected the CSK in the past: (a) water management including water supply and sewage-treatment plants, (b) mining of phosphate in karst caves, (c) large-scale quarrying of limestone (d) touristic landuse practise, (e) military activities and (f ) vandalism of karst landforms. Examples of each of these environmental pressure types are presented and their significance for this karst area is discussed. The impacts on the CSK are evaluated on the basis of the Karst Disturbance Index (KDI). Finally, the benefits and drawbacks of the KDI in the CSK are discussed.

Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, issn : 0372-8854, 2010, vol. 54, n°. 2, Special issue, p. 1-26, nombre de pages : 26, Références bibliographiques : 56 ref.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Stuttgart, Gebruder Borntraeger

Langue :
Anglais