Global Environment Outlook 3 (GEO 3)

7 7

LAND

The increase in sealed surfaces together with a decrease in forest cover has led to increased flooding — as here in Portugal — mudflows and landslides Source: UNEP, Angelo Sande, Topham Picturepoint

Soil degradation Damage to Europe’s soils from human activities is increasing, including sealing of soil surfaces, local and diffuse contamination, and soil erosion. Despite the general recognition that soil degradation is a serious and widespread problem in Europe, it has not been quantified, and its geographical distribution and real extent are not accurately known. The increase in sealed surfaces due to changes in land use together with a decrease in forest cover has increased the frequency and size of storm run-off, causing flooding, mudflows and landslides (EEA and

UNEP 2000). Increases in damage from flooding have also resulted from the development of floodplains for industry and habitation. Soil contamination occurs throughout Europe, although soil acidification from acid rain is no longer considered a major problem, having decreased by 50 per cent since the 1980s (EEA 1999). Contamination is particularly severe in urban areas due to industrial activities and inadequate waste disposal as well as in areas with a long tradition of heavy industry, mining and military activities and accidents. Throughout southeastern Europe, land which was already under stress from poor land management practices has been further damaged by military and refugee settlements, land mines (as much as 27 per cent of Bosnia’s ploughed land is still mined) and other unexploded devices (REC 2000). In Eastern Europe huge irrigation and hydroelectric projects coupled with poor water management have resulted in salinization and waterlogging of large areas, especially in Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Soil erosion in Europe is mainly caused by water and is largely a result of unsustainable agricultural practices, clear cutting of forests and overgrazing. Soil erosion is most serious in the Mediterranean region. It has become irreversible (meaning a loss of more than 1 tonne/ha/year over 50-100 years) in some Mediterranean land areas and in the black soil regions of the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Erosion is a particular problem in the

Floods and landslides in Italy (number of events)

1950–1959 1980–1989 1970–1979 1960–1969 1940–1949 1930–1939 1920–1929 1910–1919 1900–1909 1990–1999

floods landslides

0

500

1 500

1 000

2 000

2 500

3 000

In the past 20 years floods and landslides have affected more than 70 000 Italians and caused economic damage of nearly € 11 000 million. Real impacts are underestimated since data are available for only a few events

Source: EEA and UNEP 2000