Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
parts of Europe the situation is less clear. Since envir-
onmental laws are less strict or less strictly controlled,
environmental problems may be imported from the
west. Public and political support for restoration
activities is largely lacking. However, the quality and
the number of relatively undisturbed semi-natural
wetlands is still very high in many east European coun-
tries and the costs to repair the damage in such
systems are still low. It could be very beneficial to
develop projects that combine economic development
and maintenance of semi-natural mires and wetlands
(Wichtman & Succow 2001). It makes little sense to
follow the example of western Europe, where large sums
of money have been spent to destroy semi-natural land-
scapes and shortly afterwards restore small relic areas
at all costs and usually with little success.
