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Impacts of war on geodiversity and geoheritage: case studies of karst caves from Northern Laos
Citation
Kiernan, K, Impacts of war on geodiversity and geoheritage: case studies of karst caves from Northern Laos, Geoheritage, 4, (4) pp. 225-247. ISSN 1867-2477 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Springer
DOI: doi:10.1007/s12371-012-0063-3
Abstract
While the role that some places have played
during war has made them foci for legitimate commemoration
of historical events, acquisition of this cultural heritage
dimension has often occurred at considerable cost to natural
heritage values that previously existed. Research is required
to address the current deficiency in understanding of the
impacts of war on natural geoheritage and their implications
for management. This is likely to be most expeditious and
effective if focused initially upon representative examples of
environments of a kind that commonly figure in armed
conflicts; if it targets specific sites in which various types
of environmental impact have been focused in a physical
area that can readily be encompassed by fieldwork; and if
observable impacts involve a variety of vulnerable values.
These criteria are amply met by karst caves; management of
which encapsulates many environmental issues in microcosm.
Review of the physical condition of some northern
Laotian caves has enabled a range of impacts of war to be
identified, and some probable further implications of these
impacts to be inferred. Physical damage recognised includes
compaction of cave floors by trampling, damage to speleothems,
and deliberate physical modifications to cave floors
and passages. Changes to atmospheric conditions that are
likely to have been detrimental to cave ecosystems are
implied by smoke staining of cave walls and ceilings from
fires used for cooking, heating and lighting and from evidence
for chemicals likely to have impacted cave ecology
also having been used underground. A wide range of exotic
substances were also introduced into these vulnerable environments,
including foodstuffs, munitions and construction
materials. Damage was also caused by attacks made upon
caves, sometimes combined with resulting detonation of
munitions stored within them. The partial survival of some
natural values, and incipient recovery of others, now
requires very careful cave management, and the same requirement
is likely in relation to other types of geoheritage
sites that have been damaged by war. Survival of remnant
natural values may already be tenuous and is unlikely to
continue unless post-conflict management is founded upon
an holistic perspective rather than the sites involved being
managed solely as cultural heritage monuments.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | war, environmental impact , karst, caves, natural heritage, cultural heritage |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Environmental management |
Research Field: | Environmental management |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Other environmental management |
Objective Field: | Other environmental management not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Kiernan, K (Dr Kevin Kiernan) |
ID Code: | 79060 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 6 |
Deposited By: | Geography and Environmental Studies |
Deposited On: | 2012-08-15 |
Last Modified: | 2013-05-02 |
Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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