Archaeological, pedological and ethnobotanical research of the last decades brought new insights on the view on human-environment interrelations in the Amazon. In this context, we analyse possible links between Amazonian Dark Earths (Terra Preta do Índio) traditionally known from the central Amazon of Brazil and pre-Colombian Earthworks (ring ditches) in the Llanos de Mojos of Bolivia. By doing so, we also discuss the local inhabitants' perception of soils and scrutinise the importance of soil fertility. Therefore, various methods such as interviews, field surveys, soil profile discussions and laboratory analyses were applied. Results show that soils tend to have particular characteristics at ring ditches in contrast to surrounding areas. The combination of distinctively elevated phosphorus values, darker soil colour and the occurrence of potsherds indicate the presence of the Amazonian Dark Earth type "Terra Mulata" at ring ditch sites. Interviews reveal that local farmers are aware of the increased soil fertility of "Tierras Negras" within ring ditches. Nevertheless, incentives for using those soils are low due to the limited land use pressure and generally more favourable reference soils in contrast to central Amazonian Ferralsols. We finally discuss integrative approaches covering aspects of both physical and social science as pursued within the presented work in context of the dichotomy between human and physical geography. Zusammenfassung: Archäologische, bodenkundliche und ethnobotanische Forschungen der vergangenen Jahrzehnte brachten neue Anstöße zur Betrachtung der Mensch-Umweltbeziehung in Amazonien. In diesem Kontext untersuchen wir mögliche Zusammenhänge zwischen Terras Pretas do Índio (Amazonian Dark Earths), welche bislang vor allem im zentralen Amazonasbecken Brasiliens verortet werden, mit präkolumbianischen Erdwerken (Earthsworks, Rundgrabenanlagen) der Llanos de Mojos Boliviens. Dabei berücksichtigen wir ebenfalls die Wahrnehmung von Böden durch die lokale Bevölkerung und den allgemeinen Stellenwert von Bodenfruchtbarkeit. Hierfür wurden unterschiedliche Methoden angewandt, welche Interviews und Feldbegehungen sowie Profilansprachen und Laboranalysen umfassen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Böden an Rundgrabenanlagen bestimmte Eigenschaften im Vergleich zu Referenzflächen aufweisen. Die Kombination aus deutlich erhöhten Phosphorwerten, dunkler Oberbodenfarbe und der Präsenz von Tonscherben deutet auf den anthropogenen Schwarzerdetyp "Tierra Mulata". Interviews zeigen, dass die erhöhte Fruchtbarkeit der "Tierra Negra" an den Rundgrabenanlagen durch die lokale Bevölkerung wahrgenommen wird. Jedoch sind Anreize zur besonderen Nutzung dieser Böden auf Grund des niedrigen Landnutzungsdrucks kaum vorhanden. Auch sind die Referenzböden im Vergleich zu den Ferralsolen von Zentralamazonien allgemein fruchtbarer. Integrative Ansätze, wie in dieser Studie verfolgt, werden abschließend im Kontext der Dichotomie zwischen Humangeographie und der Physischen Geographie diskutiert.
. Ma-pping the value of ecosystem services: a case study from the Austrian Alps. Ann. For. Res. 58(1): 157-175.Abstract. Ecosystem services (ES) are considered the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems sustain and fulfil human life. In the decision making process related to the natural resources management, two key-aspects must be taken into account: the economic value of the benefits provided by ES (provisioning, regulating and cultural services) and the spatial distribution of these benefits. The purpose of the paper is to develop a method aimed to capture the economic value of the benefits provided by ES, in order to support the decision makers in the natural resources management. ES are not homogeneous across landscapes nor in space. Consequently, gaining knowledge on the spatial distribution of the economic relevance of ES is a fundamental information to target management actions. This method was tested in a case study in the Austrian Alps (Leiblachtal area in Vorarlberg region), characterized by a high importance of forests and grasslands. The results show that the highest economic values could be achieved for the provisioning services with a range between 200 €/ha year and 1,400 €/ha year. The regulating services have also important economic values, but strongly localized in specific areas (i.e. protective forests against natural hazards). The economic values of the cultural services are influenced by the preferences of tourists and varies between 5 €/ha year to 60 €/ha year. The method allowed us to reveal the spatial heterogeneity of provisioning, regulating and cultural ES, depending on the ecological characteristics of the site.
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