Drivers in the geo-environmental evolution of Northern Iberian watersheds during the Anthoropocene

This contribution is focused on the reconstruction of the geo-environmental evolution during the Anthropocene. The research initiative, within the framework of the GECANT project, aims at understanding how recent natural and anthropic changes have affected the geomorphological dynamics of Cantabrian watersheds (Northern Spain), which have experienced an intense human activity during the last centuries. For this purpose, a multi-file and multi-site approach has been used by integrating data from distinctive lakes and estuaries of a large range of environmental conditions comprising the whole Cantabrian region. A multidisciplinary strategy, including geomorphological analyses, instrumental climate records, limnological studies, and multi-proxy analysis of sediment cores (geochemistry, geochronology and palaeoecology), as well as socioeconomic data, has been used in order to disentangle the natural and human drivers and causes of environmental changes. The data obtained so far indicate an increase in sedimentation rates in lakes and estuaries since the middle of the 20^th century. Conceivably, this research will lead to the improvement of our understanding of the synergistic effects of natural and human drivers at the basin scale whilst promoting an enhanced design of global change mitigation and adaptation policies.