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 other techniques are now available to study impacts of broad scale management on the hydrology and water quality of catchments and even river basins. Research tools have also 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 the matrix of scales, from plot to river basin, and from farm to national policy. Some chapters review background issues while others consider specific methods. The book is based on papers presented at a workshop held in Indonesia in November 1997, and is written by authors from Europe, North America, Australia and Southeast Asia as well as from several of the CGIAR centres.