Kovačič, Gregor

Ravbar, Nataša

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Geophysical Research AbstractsVol. 14, EGU2012-2407, 2012EGU General Assembly 2012© Author(s) 2012Destruction of dolines: the examples from Slovene karstG. Kovacic (1) and N. Ravbar (2)(1) University of Primorska, Faculty of humanities Koper, Science and Research Centre, Koper, Slovenia(gregor.kovacic@fhs.upr.si), (2) Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Karst ResearchInstitute, Postojna, Slovenia (natasa.ravbar@zrc-sazu.si)Due to the absence of soil and flat agricultural land, in karst regions, the cultivation of doline bottoms and the clear-ing of stones on fields and meadows were traditional methods of adapting farming practices to the landscape withlimited agricultural potential. In recent years, a variety of activities resulting from comprehensive economic andurban development have increased pressure on karst landscapes. In some areas the surface and the underground areincreasingly threatened by industrial activities, uncontrolled settlement and spread of infrastructure, the develop-ment of tourism, and intensive agrarian land use. Unsupervised human encroachment on karst landscapes is causingthe increasingly more frequent and more widespread degradation of karst relief forms. The intensive reshaping ofthe landscape has expanded beyond control largely as a result of technological development and mechanization.The excessive modern filling of dolines, as one of the most distinctive karst surface features, has become a majorencroachment on the environment for leveling purposes. Such kind of human influence affects the shape of karstfeatures and the appearance of the landscape as well as the intensity of karst processes such as corrosion. Many do-lines are filled with general and construction waste, which threatens the existence of unique habitats and quality ofgroundwater and consequently water supply. This contribution presents some cases of inappropriate managementof karst landscape in Slovenia and examines the national legislative framework on spatial planning in karst regions.Unfortunately, in the current legislation, the standards and conditions for the protection of karst landscape charac-teristics (e.g. dolines) are loose and not fully elaborated. Principally, there are no uniform mechanisms to protectspecific relief forms or for the adequate protection of karst. To a large extent, the preservation of the characteristickarst landscape is left to local communities that most often lack the necessary financial and professional resourcesto appropriately direct land use, and those dealing with spatial planning and land use have insufficient knowledgeregarding the complexity of karst and its vulnerability. The unique karst relief with various types, shapes and di-mensions of dolines is usually considered only as an obstacle for faster local spatial development (e.g. building ofindustrial zones, traffic infrastructure, settlements, etc.) by decision makers, planners and construction engineers.Therefore, dolines are extremely susceptible to human impacts, which has to be considered in spatial planning inkarst in order to preserve their natural value.

Destruction of dolines

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Destruction of dolines

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