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ŠUMARSKI LIST 13/2005 str. 77     <-- 77 -->        PDF

PRESENTATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM Šumarski list - SUPLEMENT (2005), 69-77


RISK OF WATER-INDUCED SOIL EROSION IN THE
FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF CROATIA


Stjepan HUSNJAK1, Nikola PERNAR2, Renata PERNAR2, Ivica KISIĆ1


Summary: The paper explores the risk of erosion processes in the forest
ecosystems of Croatia, under a hypothetical assumption that there was no forest
vegetation and that the areas were barren.


A digital map of potential erosion risk was used for the purpose of investigating
the potential risk of water-induced soil erosion. The J:300,000 map
covering the entire area of the Republic of Croatia was made in the CORINE
programme.


The area was inventoried on the basis of the map. As much as 44.8 % of
the forest ecosystem area faces a high risk of water-induced soil erosion, while
26.5 % of the area is threatened by a moderate erosion hazard. Apartfrom
indicating the importance of non-commercial forest functions in Croatia, these
data also highlight the fundamental starting points for a more objective assessment
of such resources.


The paper discusses various difficulties and problems occurring in the assessment
of erosion risks. Solutions are given for more objective estimates of
both potential and actual hazards of water-induced soil erosion in forest ecosystems.
Related to this, focus is placed on the necessity of constructing a high-
resolution map of ground cover and determining potential erosion risks at a
regional level. The probability of vegetation fire occurrence, as well as its features
in the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean area should be discussed
and realistic risks of erosion estimated.


Key w o rds: water-induced soil erosion, risk of soil erosion, soil erodibility,
terrain erodibility, GIS


INTRODUCTION


Water-induced soil erosion is an extremely dangepacts
upon the total economic development. These imrous
soil damage, which may cause most adverse im-pacts are directly demonstrated in agriculture and wa


ter management. According toMartinovi ć (1997),


soil is exposed to water erosion on about 90 % of Cro


atian territory. Gračani n (1962) wrote that the chief


Stjepan Husnjak, Ph. D., Assistant Lecturer with the Faculty


erosion factors in Croatia are relief, lithological struc


of Agronomy of Zagreb University, Institute of Pedology,


ture (parent rock), climate, vegetation cover, anthropo


Svetošimunska 25;
shusnjak@agr.hr genic impacts and soil properties. In a sustainably maIvica
Kisić, Ph. D., Associate Professor with the Faculty


naged forest there is practically no accelerated erosion.


of Agronomy of Zagreb University, Institute of general


Instead, only normal erosion takes place, with a degra


plant production, Svetošimunska 25;


ikisic@agr.hr dation impact that is less significant than the progres"
Nikola Pernar, Ph. D., Associate Professor with the Faculty sion effects of pedogenctic processes (Martinovi ć


of Forestry of Zagreb University, Institute of Ecology


2003).


and Silviculture, Svetošimunska 25;
pernar@hi.htnet.hr


The extensive research carried out by Topic and co


Renata Pernar, Ph. D., Assistant Lecturer with Faculty of Forestry


llaborators in the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterrane


of Zagreb University, Institute of Silviculture;
rpcrnar@sumfak.hr an regions of Croatia (Topic 1995, 1996, 1999,2001,