wasteland
In terms of nature conservation, wasteland is an area that is not subject to any economic use. Wasteland is characterized by the sterility of the soil due to climatic, orographic , physico-chemical or anthropogenic conditions. Plant growth is severely restricted or limited to a few specialized, usually not economically viable plants. In contrast to the habitat of the deserts , conditions other than lack of water are responsible for the formation of wasteland.
to form
- Rock or frost debris regions in mountains or polar regions
- Karst landscapes
- eroded areas and badlands
- Moors
- salinated surfaces
- contaminated areas
Most of these landforms can come about naturally or as a result of human influence. Wasteland is unsuitable for human use, and this condition is often irreversible in the long term or in principle.
Natural forms of wasteland are particularly found where the soil is too permeable or impermeable, rainfall is unevenly distributed and the temperature may be too low or its fluctuation is too extreme. There are also areas with volcanic activity, in which large areas of wasteland can form due to the ejection of rock debris , lava and ash . The escape of gases can also set this development in motion.
- Exceptions
Settlement and traffic areas are not considered wasteland. Although it is not agricultural, it can be used economically by people and was designed as such for this purpose. If economic use ceases to exist, for example due to the closure of mining or industrial operations, the industrial wasteland is considered wasteland. In most cases, the companies or public bodies are obliged to restore them to their natural state, in particular to dispose of contaminated sites and to bring about a renaturation through soil replacement, afforestation, etc.
Situation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
While in Switzerland and Austria the highest proportion of naturally formed wasteland is found in the rocky regions in the Alps , in Germany the moor areas of the north German lowlands also count , which, however, have decreased significantly over the past centuries. However, industrial wastelands in particular have emerged , of which the abandoned lignite opencast mines are likely to have the largest share of the area. These are so far only slowly being renatured.
In Germany there is the officially defined term unland , which is more narrowly defined than wasteland, as it does not include moors and swamps .
Formation of wasteland
A major global problem is land degradation due to excessive agricultural use. This often leads, especially in arid and semi-arid climates, to leaching, washing out and erosion of the fertile soil layers, so that not only desertification but also the formation of wasteland is promoted.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lower Saxony Implementation Act to the Federal Nature Conservation Act of February 19, 2010 Legal definition of wasteland in Section 22.