The article discusses the pervasive issue of soil erosion and its implications for global environmental change, highlighting that 33% of the Earth’s land is affected by soil degradation. Physical factors like topography and climate, coupled with socio-economic activities such as agriculture, urban sprawl, and mining, exacerbate soil erosion. The European Union acknowledges soil erosion as a threat to ecosystem services, prompting initiatives like the Soil Thematic Strategy for monitoring soil loss, with the average erosion rate in the EU estimated at 2.45 t/ha/yr.
In Serbia, the Erosion Potential Model (EPM) is prevalent for assessing soil erosion, with studies showing significant impacts of land use changes and demographic shifts on erosion intensity across eleven mountain watersheds. Utilizing statistical tools like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the research identifies key drivers of erosion changes, classifying watersheds into four types based on dominant socio-economic and environmental factors.
Results indicate a general decline in soil erosion intensity from 1971 to 2011, correlating with processes of rural depopulation and deagrarization, as agriculture declines and land is abandoned. The findings stress that understanding soil erosion dynamics is crucial for effective land management, ecological restoration, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The study emphasizes the necessity of adapting research methodologies to local conditions and the potential for remote sensing data to enhance monitoring efforts.
