Anthropogenic geomorphology in environmental management

Abstract

Human activities with geomorphic impact become an integrated part of environmental management, encompassing both the utilization of environmental resources and the simultaneous protection of environmental values. The objectives of anthropogenic geomorphological research in environmental management include the prediction of the course of geomorphic evolution after human intervention over various time-scales (directly providing geomorphological data for environmental management); promoting the restoration of degraded landscapes; the identification of landforms worth preserving (serving landscape conservation through estimating the conservational value and the vulnerability of landforms). The rehabilitation of the landscape is particularly important in industrial and mining regions. River channel and floodplain restoration measures are also in the forefront of interest and serve landscape ecological purposes. Fulfilling these requirements, geomorphology, in the 21st century will acquire an even more important role in environmental management. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.