The Balkans - the most erosive part of Europe?

Abstract

Soil erosion has been occurring over the geological time. Inappropriate human activities accelerate this process. Soil erosion by water is a widespread problem throughout Europe. The South and Southeast regions of Europe are significantly prone to water erosion. In parts of the region, erosion has reached a stage of irreversibility and in some places erosion has practically ceased because there is no soil left. Scientists from the Balkan countries faced with the erosion problem for years, paid significant attention to solving problems with erosion. The aim of this study is to compare the results of water erosion intensity in the Balkan countries with other European countries. The basic methodological approach in this paper is an analysis of secondary data, using the method of “content analyses” of various data sources. Inductive and deductive qualitative analysis was used and finally the method of “comparative analysis” is applied too. Through the analysis of national researches, it was estimated that erosion intensity in Balkan countries is 548 m3km-2 (similar to 5.48 tha-1) and the total amount of annual produced erosive material is 419.9 *106 m3. The mean European average annual erosion intensity is 3.13tha-1. The most erosive countries in Europe are the Balkan countries, Albania and Montenegro where the mean annual intensity of erosion is > 10 tha-1.