L’érosion des sols en Europe

Commissariat général au développement durableOct 1, 2019

L’érosion correspond à un phénomène naturel de dégradation des sols, accéléré localement par les activités humaines (friches, surpâturage, surexploitation). L’érosion caractérise l’une des principales menaces qui pèse sur les sols en Europe. La surface affectée par l’érosion hydrique est estimée à 1,3 million de km² dans l’UE-27 (soit un quart des sols européens), tandis qu’un peu plus d’un cinquième des sols présentent une sensibilité à l’érosion éolienne.

Erosion corresponds to a natural phenomenon of soil degradation, locally accelerated by human activities (wastelands, overgrazing, overexploitation). Erosion characterizes one of the main threats weighing on soils in Europe. The area affected by water erosion is estimated at 1.3 million km² in the EU-27 (or one quarter of European soils), while just over one fifth of soils show sensitivity to wind erosion.

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Water erosion of soils in Europe
Affected soil extent
Just under one quarter of European soils are estimated to be susceptible to soil loss through water erosion exceeding 1 tonne per hectare per year (t/ha/yr). This proportion represents approximately 6% of European territory for losses exceeding 5 t/ha/yr and less than 1% for the most severe soil losses (over 20 t/ha/yr).
Averages and affected countries
On average, it is estimated at 3.6 t/ha/yr for cultivated land. It reaches even 17 t/ha/yr in vineyards. The countries most affected by this phenomenon are Slovakia, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Italy, with an average of 2.3 t/ha/yr or higher, nearly double the European average (1.2 t/ha/yr). France is at the European average.
Losses by crop type
Soil losses vary according to crop type. They are very high in vineyards (17 t/ha/yr), around 3 t/ha/yr in cultivated land and orchards, and very low in grasslands or forests.
Mediterranean zone cases
Mediterranean areas are characterized by relatively low erosion rates, due to the protective effect of numerous rock fragments in these soils. However, erosion is particularly damaging for Mediterranean soils, which are often shallow.
Wind erosion of soils in Europe
Wind erosion mechanism
Wind erosion, like water erosion, corresponds to a natural phenomenon of soil degradation, locally accelerated by human activities (wastelands, overgrazing, overexploitation). Certain wind intensity, specific soil characteristics and the absence of protective cover can trigger erosion.
European-scale sensitivity
At the European scale, just over one fifth of soils show sensitivity to wind erosion, of which 3% (or 13 million hectares) show high sensitivity. While most countries are affected by wind erosion, only a few appear to present high sensitivity: Denmark (16.2% of territory), Spain (10.2%), Greece (7.9%), Cyprus (6.4%), Romania (5.4%), France (4.3%).
Sensitive zone distribution
In the Mediterranean, soils are highly or moderately sensitive to wind erosion along the south-west coast of Spain, along the Gulf of Lion in France and on French, Greek and Italian islands. In northern Europe, the most sensitive regions are located on the English Channel coast in France and the Netherlands. In the North Sea, this concerns south-west England and Scotland, a large part of Denmark and the coasts of the Scandinavian peninsula. Finally, the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts along the Black Sea and in the plains bordering the Carpathian mountains also show high sensitivities.

Further reading

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