Die Böden Österreichs - Funktionen, Belastungen und Verluste, Schutzmassnahmen

Wien

1994

S. 192-213

34 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200077139

The genesis and geographical distribution of Austrian soils, including their basic features are described and their main ecological functions, such as biomass production, filtering, buffering and transformation action as well as protection of the gene reserve are discussed. Functions mainly linked to human activities are also identified, such as space for human habitats, industrial and transport activites, dumping of waste, and the use of soils for recreation and sporting activities, soils as source of raw materials and soils as part of landscapes and as cultural heritage, concealing archeological and palaeontological treasures. Looking specifically into the spatial concurrence between the uses of these different functions, sustainable land use is defined as the local or regional harmonization of all these soil uses minimizing irreversible soil losses, thus leaving options for future generations. Moreover, the main deterioration processes and soil losses in Austria are described, including their historical dimension and soil protection measures on strategic, tactical and operational level, based on the actual of the art in Austria.