An example of the effects of anthropogenic changes on natural environment in the Apulian karst (southern Italy)

This paper examines a case study regarding a site in the Murge karst (Apulia, southern Italy) where, in the course of time, anthropogenic activity has caused significant damage to the natural landscape and environment, also in terms of loss of human lives. The study site comprises the city of Bari and the neighbouring towns, belonging to the same catchment basin, which is characterised by a low-relief karst very rich in natural cavities and dry valleys, the latter locally called lame. From the second half of the 1500s until today, in the whole area, short rainfall storms (lasting less than 6 h) with disastrous and mortal consequences have been recorded many times. In the last decades, human activities, such as urbanization, stone clearing for agricultural purposes, quarrying and deforestation induced severe changes in the karst landscape causing the modification of the surficial and underground drainage. In particular, an examination is made of the factors causing the complete destruction of the “di Maso” Park on the night between 22 and 23 October 2005, in consequence of a high-intensity rainfall (152.6 mm in a 6-h period) accompanied by flash flooding. Finally, the need for a better understanding of natural processes and patterns in karst areas, and the interactions with human activities through to the development of environmental management systems ensuring further steps towards sustainable development is remarked.