Objectives and scope

Runoff and soil erosion are among the major environmental threats related to agricultural and forest land uses in Europe. The main consequences of erosion are not only on-site: soil degradation, declining soil fertility, limiting infiltration capacity and water storage. Off-site impacts include eutrophication of watercourses and lakes, destruction of wildlife habitats, siltation of dams, reservoirs, rivers, and property damage by flooding (muddy floods). Runoff prevention and soil protection have beneficial effects in reducing flood risk, especially against a background of climate change.

The main aim of this final conference of the COST Action 634 (2004-2008) is to present the achievements of the action and to discuss the results of soil erosion research in the context of land management and policy formulation that encourage soil protection and reduce the on-and offsite impacts of runoff and erosion; identify and analyse the barriers for effective soil protection at all levels (scientific, political, administrative and management), develop tools and methods to support decision making in the sustainable management of erosion-sensitive areas at the farm level; develop an integrated understanding of on-and off-site impacts at the catchment scale.