The environmental impacts of human activities and engineering constructions in karst regions

Abstract

Many karst regions of the world face unique technical, managerial and political challenges as demands on water resources increase. Reclamation projects, construction of large dams and reservoirs, deep underground excavations and complex foundation structures have profound impacts on karst function, in addition to regional ecological, infrastructure, social and political systems. The important issue in karst regions for the future is how to keep the balance between the necessity for development and preservation of unpredictable and complex hydrogeological systems.