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Vegetation degeneration has become a serious ecological problem for karst regions in the Anthropocene. According to the deficiency of long serial and high-resolution analysis of karst vegetation, this paper reconstructed the variation of vegetation landscape changes from 1987 to 2020 in a typical karst region of China. Using Landsat time series data, the dynamic changes and driving factors of natural karst vegetation were identified at the landscape scale. On the premise of considering the time-lag effect, the main climatic factors that influence vegetation growth were presented at the interannual timescale. Then, the approach of residual analysis was adopted to distinguish the dominant factors affecting vegetation growth. Results of trend analysis revealed that 21.5% of the forestland showed an overall significant decline in vegetation growth, while only 1.5% showed an increase in vegetation growth during the study period. Precipitation and radiation were the dominant meteorological factors influencing vegetation at the interannual timescale, as opposed to temperature. More than 70% of the natural vegetation growth was dominated by climatic factors. The area percentage of negative human impact has increased gradually since 2009 and reached 18.5% in 2020, indicating the currently serious situation of vegetation protection; fortunately, in recent years, human disturbances on vegetation have been mitigated in karst areas with the promotion of ecological conservation and restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the Kras/Carso Food Tour to present the challenges of developing a luxury tourism product. The tour's design followed the current strategy of the Slovenian Tourist Board, which defines specific criteria for a luxury experience. Contextualized by the experiential trends in tourism, the paper juxtaposes the bottom-up and top-down perspectives on luxury experiences. The authors argue that mediation by experts familiar with academic discourses and local culture is beneficial for the development of a successful tourism product. The study contributes to the debates on luxury tourism, which have neglected bottom-up perceptions in tourist discourse and overlooked the dilemmas people face when »luxurifying« their traditions and heritage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the green use efficiency of cultivated land in the karst region of southwest China is crucial for promoting sustainable development of land resources and achieving harmony between humans and nature. Based on the epsilon-based measure model and geographically and temporally weighted regression methods, this paper investigated the spatio-temporal variation and influencing factors of cultivated land green utilization efficiency. The results indicated that: i) Cultivated land green utilization efficiency had slightly increased from 0.842 in 2000 to 0.866 in 2020. ii) The spatial pattern of cultivated land green utilization efficiency showed a significant positive correlation, with a "hotspot-not significant-coldspot" from north to south. iii) Its spatial heterogeneity had increased during the observation period, with high-efficiency areas shifting from northeast to north. iv) The proportion of agricultural economy, general public budget revenue, per unit cultivated land value had a positive impact on the cultivated land green utilization efficiency, while urbanization rate, per capita cultivated land area, land replanting index, average altitude had a negative impact. Moreover, the driving factors exhibited significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Therefore, it is necessary to promote technological progress and scientific research, implement funds and policies, leverage the leading role of high-efficiency areas, formulate differentiated development strategies, and thereby improve the green use efficiency of cultivated land. • Cultivated land green utilization efficiency had slightly increased. • The high-efficiency area distribution changed from northeast to due north. • The driving factors exhibited significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. • The differentiated policies promote the effective use of cultivated land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data of Corine, land cover (CLC) are digital data about land cover which is distributed into 44 classes, whereas for the territory off Bulgaria, the classes are 36. The minimal mappable unit is 25 hectares (for 2D objects and 100 m for linear objects). Data sets for the years 1990, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018 are available, as well as for the changes which have occurred between each couple of years (1990-2000, 2000-2006, 2006-2012, and 2012-2018). The great data sets provide to track over a nearly 30-year period of land cover changes in model karst regions which are strongly vulnerable to anthropogenic and natural influences. This paper considers the changes in the land cover types on the Devetashko plateau - a typical karst plateau in North Bulgaria. Land cover and land use changes affect directly the processes of modern karst-genesis, the soil-vegetation cover, the quantity and quality of underground karst waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on five culinary events on Slovenia's Karst Plateau (Kras). It presents visitors' motives for attending these events, their satisfaction with them, and their views on sustainability. These traditional culinary events, which take place in the same gastronomic region, differ in their scale, theme, character, and history. A survey was conducted among 244 visitors, approximately 50% of whom had a university degree. The most important motives for their visit include local cuisine; experiencing something new, different, or special; and exploring natural heritage and especially cultural heritage. Visitor satisfaction is the greatest at boutique culinary events, where the main theme is highlighted more strongly than at large-scale culinary events. The main challenge in terms of the sustainability of culinary events is public transport access to the venues. Significant progress would be made by reducing the amount of disposable packaging made from non-sustainable materials. The key to successful culinary events is high-quality services and ingredients, where the word local is key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape change is a dynamic feature of landscape structure and function over time which is usually affected by natural and human factors. The evolution of rocky desertification is a typical landscape change that directly affects ecological environment governance and sustainable development. Guizhou is one of the most typical subtropical karst landform areas in the world. Its special karst rocky desertification phenomenon is an important factor affecting the ecological environment and limiting sustainable development. In this paper, remote sensing imagery and machine learning methods are utilized to model and analyze the spatiotemporal variation of rocky desertification in Guizhou. Based on an improved CA-Markov model, rocky desertification scenarios in the next 30 years are predicted, providing data support for exploration of the evolution rule of rocky desertification in subtropical karst areas and for effective management. The specific results are as follows: (1) Based on the dynamic degree, transfer matrix, evolution intensity, and speed, the temporal and spatial evolution of rocky desertification in Guizhou from 2001 to 2020 was analyzed. It was found that the proportion of no rocky desertification (NRD) areas increased from 48.86% to 63.53% over this period. Potential rocky desertification (PRD), light rocky desertification (LRD), middle rocky desertification (MRD), and severe rocky desertification (SRD) continued to improve, with the improvement showing an accelerating trend after 2010. (2) An improved CA-Markov model was used to predict the future rocky desertification scenario; compared to the traditional CA-Markov model, the Lee–Sallee index increased from 0.681 to 0.723, and figure of merit (FOM) increased from 0.459 to 0.530. The conclusions of this paper are as follows: (1) From 2001 to 2020, the evolution speed of PRD was the fastest, while that of SRD was the slowest. Rocky desertification control should not only focus on areas with serious rocky desertification, but also prevent transformation from NRD to PRD. (2) Rocky desertification will continue to improve over the next 30 years. Possible deterioration areas are concentrated in high-altitude areas, such as the south of Bijie and the east of Liupanshui. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to present the geology of the western part of the Classical Karst (NW Dinarides), located at the border between Slovenia and Italy. The work is based on archive, published and new data collected by Slovenian and Italian researchers within several scientific national and Cross Border Cooperation projects. The map, produced at a scale of 1:50,000, summarizes the lithological and structural setting and is supplemented by three geological cross-sections of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dinarides are the largest continuous karst region in Europe. With regard to a geotectonic view, they are divided into the Outer, Central and Inner Dinarides occupying the territories of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. Numerous occurrences of thermomineral water have been recorded in the Inner Dinarides area. The majority of them are genetically related to carbonate sediments of Mesozoic age. This paper deals with occurrences of thermomineral waters of the Inner Dinarides karst, their quantitative and qualitative characteristics, basic genetic types, the age of karst thermomineral waters of the Inner Dinarides, the available quantities of hydrogeothermalmineral energy, balneological potential and the possibility of rational multi-purpose utilisation. Hydrochemical and isotope methods have been used for the analysis of basic genetic types and age of karst thermomineral waters, while a geothermometer method has been used for the calculation of primary temperatures in water-bearing horizons(geothermal reservoirs) themselves. The carried out research has pointed out that karst thermomineral waters formed in carbonate sediments of Mesozoic age are characterized by temperatures ranging from 15.5oC (Knežina Ilidža) to 75oC (Bogatić), being most frequently of a HCO3-Ca, Mg type with neutral to poor alkaline reaction and mineralization below 1 g/l. Karst thermomineral waters of the Inner Dinarides are most frequently related to geothermal systems formed in carbonate sediments covered by rocks of poor water permeability. In case of some thermomineral water occurrences, the mixing of the karst thermomineral waters with those formed in sedimentary basins occurs due to their hydraulic relation, thus it is not possible to determine only one geothermal system in which they are formed. The overall geothermal potential of the thermomineral waters of the Inner Dinarides karst is about 160 MW. In addition to the geothermal aspect, these waters have been widely utilised in balneology, wellness programmes, as well as for the needs of bottling. The level of research activity and with that the way of the utilisation of these waters are various. With regard to the number of occurrences known so far and their potential, it can be claimed with certainty, that the utilisation of thermomineral water occurring in the karst of the Inner Dinarides will increase significantly in future. An example of the multi-purpose utilisation of the Pribojska Banja Spa thermomineral waters illustrates a possible way of doing it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by the example of Canin Massif, it is demonstrated, how GIS-techniques can be used for the study of high mountain karst terrains. In case of Canin, elevation and slope histograms show characteristic differences in plateau levels and landforming processes between the northern, western and southern sectors of the mountains. Ridge and valley map (derived from the digital elevation model) and thalweg analysis are used to recognize drainage reorganizations north of the Italian Canin plateau. Potential snow accumulation locations and nunataks are determined based mainly on the slope map. Geomorphological sketch maps and statistical analysis of closed depressions are also carried out in this study supporting the relatively young age of superficial karstification and the strong structural impact. Finally, it is concluded, that quantitative and visual capabilities of GIS are useful in discriminating the effects of glacial, fluvial, structural and karst processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new species Salpingoporella tari n.sp. is established, found in a sample of Barremian intraclastic grainstone. It is similar to S. annulata (LORENZ) and S. grudii (RADOICIC), but visibly more robust. It has few branches per whorl, and the whorls being spaced far apart. The branches are laterally compressed at their distal ends, therefore being vertically elongated. New finding of Salpingoporella cemi (RADOICIC) gave the new data the variability of the shape of its branches, and on the precise stratigraphic position of the investigated localities. Besides, Salpingoporella patruliusi BUCUR is illustrated, this being its first find outside Monti Apuseni (south Carpathians) and its geographic range thus encompassing also the Dinarides. Also, a large observed number of specimens of Salpingoporella muehlbergii (LORENZ) with ramified thallus makes that feature both its species-specific and generic characteristic. Quite strongly varying values of various biometric parameters, depending on the position the thallus in one and the same specimen, raises serious questions as to their reliability and usefulness as a distinguishing factor in comparing both the specimens of one and the same species and of species of the same genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, a rush to better understand the European Palaeolithic led to the substantive removal of deposits from limestone caves. In the 21st century the situation has changed. Many caves are now excavated, leaving behind a human-made environment of diminished cave sediments and large spoil heaps, with the latter now targeted by those searching for artefacts missed during the original excavations. In an age in which archaeologists are increasingly attempting to balance their roles as cultural heritage educators and destroyers, the question remains - how much do we know about the taphonomy of these features? In this paper we report results from the excavation of a large spoil heap outside Švédův Stůl Cave, in the Moravian Karst region of Czech Republic. Results show heterogeneous sediment formation (revealed primarily through their field characteristics and ED-XRF and Itrax geochemical analyses) and patterns in artefact distributions (evident through assessment of Iron Age, Neolithic and modern artefacts) and faunal remains. This allows partial context to be provided for some artefacts and a methodology to be developed for excavation of overburden. • Identify intact contexts within archaeological spoil. • Insight into hominin activity in Czech Republic during mid-late Palaeolithic. • Demonstrate how XRF (ED-XRF and Itrax) may unravel complex sediment histories. • Provide a new methodology for excavating overburden. • Flag urgent need to apply these methods before excavation destroys these features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the eleventh Karst Research Conference that was held in Decorah, Iowa during April 5-7, 1990. The periodic meetings explore different karst regions through an intensive field trip led by local researchers, followed by paper presentations by geographers, geologists, chemists, environmentalists, engineers. The meeting showcased the karst area of southern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa where much recent work has been done on the impact of pesticides and agricultural practices on karst terranes.