LANDSCAPE DAMAGE BY SKIING AT THE SCHAUINSLAND IN THE BLACK-FOREST, GERMANY

The development of ski-runs and lifts for downhill skiing in the Black Forest has led to extensive damage. Vegetation cover and topsoil have been lost, resulting in soil erosion and extended needle-ice solifluc tion. The mapping of damage in skiing areas, primarily applied in alpi ne regions, is now being undertaken in lower mountain areas; it indica tes the relationships between types of damage, frequency, distribution , location, aspect, and relief. The analysis of the snow-cover conditi ons at the Schauinsland between the winters of 1976/77 and 1993/94 sho ws an exceptional variability in snow depth as well as duration of sno w cover. Classification of the damage on test plots for the period 198 5/86 indicates that graded areas, used as pastures, are extremely susc eptible to geomorphological processes, especially erosion and solifluc tion, and that consequential damage is very likely. It is possible to quantify the erosion and accumulation rates during the summer by simpl e measurements. The results of the study at Schauinsland reveal differ ent parameters with which to evaluate recent geomorpho-dynamic process es. These can be used to develop a program for ski-tourism that will r esult in less damage and will allow damaged areas to regenerate.