Landscapes are modelled by natural and anthropogenic processes: natural processes are responsible of reshaping through hydrologic and soil erosion processes and they are the result of the interaction of climate, soil physic-chemical characteristics and landscape geometries; anthropic activity is therefore responsible for landscape and ecosystem changes through urbanisation and agricultural practises advent – changes that are even wider than the impact of natural and climatic factors. Soil erosion processes and landscape modifications have been also accelerated during the last centuries due to land use, increasing consumption of natural resources and technologic innovations.

The purpose of this section is to stimulate scientists coming from different experiences and disciplines to converge on a modelling approach to study soil erosion and their link with environmental drivers, such as climate and/or land use changes.
We’ll approach the study of soil erosion processes, human impact and long term modelling for all terrains in the block (a) and the soil surface processes on karst terrains in the block (b), that represent a specific environment in terms of soil development and distribution, soil hydrological behaviour and associated soil erosion responses.

Discussions are expected to focus on analysis and modelling of the processes accounting as priority causality and interaction between the processes. It will be interesting to approach the problem in an evolutionary view, the knowledge of past landscapes is essential to understand the present and predict their future state.

Keynote address by:
John Wainwright, Durham University, UK
"Making Other Worlds: Modelling Past Interactions of Agriculture and Erosion"