Soil Erosion at Multiple Scales Principles and Methods for Assessing Causes and Impacts

Approaches to research on the causes and impacts of soil erosion have changed significantly over recent years. Whereas biophysical research traditionally utilized small, carefully-managed erosion plots, models and methods are now available to study impacts of broad scale management on the hydrology and water quality of catchments and even river basins. Corresponding research tools have been developed for social and economic analysis at the household, farm and community levels. This book reviews the latest developments in such soil erosion studies. These are considered on a matrix of scales, from plot to river basin, and from farm to national policy. Some chapters review background issues while others consider specific methods. Conclusions of working groups are presented in another chapter. The book is based on papers presented at a workshop held in Indonesia in November 1997, and includes authors from Europe, America, Australia and Asia, as well as from several of the CGIAR centres.

"This is an ambitious and wide-ranging collection of 22 chapters contributed by 65 authors from 12 countries. . . . The authors focus on erosion in steep lands in the humid tropics where erosion is a serious threat to sustainability of soils and life. . . . About one-third of the chapters discuss
erosion from social and economic points of view. Soil scientists and conservationists who have forgotten their introductory economics lessons will be reminded of them when they see some of the figures and read about marginal costs and benefits. . . . [O]verall the book succeeds in bringing together
a wide array of research on soil erosion and conservation at multiple scales. Most of the chapters include many references that will be valuable to students and researchers. Many of the chapters would make good reading assignments in a graduate class in international agricultural development or soil
conservation."--Soil Science
"This is an ambitious and wide-ranging collection of 22 chapters contributed by 65 authors from 12 countries. . . . The authors focus on erosion in steep lands in the humid tropics where erosion is a serious threat to sustainability of soils and life. . . . About one-third of the chapters discuss
erosion from social and economic points of view. Soil scientists and conservationists who have forgotten their introductory economics lessons will be reminded of them when they see some of the figures and read about marginal costs and benefits. . . . [O]verall the book succeeds in bringing together
a wide array of research on soil erosion and conservation at multiple scales. Most of the chapters include many references that will be valuable to students and researchers. Many of the chapters would make good reading assignments in a graduate class in international agricultural development or soil
conservation."--Soil Science
"This is an ambitious and wide-ranging collection of 22 chapters contributed by 65 authors from 12 countries. . . . The authors focus on erosion in steep lands in the humid tropics where erosion is a serious threat to sustainability of soils and life. . . . About one-third of the chapters discuss erosion from social and economic points of view. Soil scientists and conservationists who have forgotten their introductory economics lessons will be reminded of them when they see some of the figures and read about marginal costs and benefits. . . . [O]verall the book succeeds in bringing together a wide array of research on soil erosion and conservation at multiple scales. Most of the chapters include many references that will be valuable to students and researchers. Many of the chapters would make good reading assignments in a graduate class in international agricultural development or soil conservation."--Soil Science
"This is an ambitious and wide-ranging collection of 22 chapters contributed by 65 authors from 12 countries. . . . The authors focus on erosion in steep lands in the humid tropics where erosion is a serious threat to sustainability of soils and life. . . . About one-third of the chapters discuss erosion from social and economic points of view. Soil scientists and conservationists who have forgotten their introductory economics lessons will be reminded of them when they see some of the figures and read about marginal costs and benefits. . . . [O]verall the book succeeds in bringing together a wide array of research on soil erosion and conservation at multiple scales. Most of the chapters include many references that will be valuable to students and researchers. Many of the chapters would make good reading assignments in a graduate class in international agricultural development or soil conservation."--Soil Science