Scientific Support of Gully Rehabilitation in Protected Landscapes

Abstract

The experience of scientific support of work on the rehabilitation of the gully on the Cape Burkhan on the Olkhon Island (south of Eastern Siberia, Lake Baikal) is considered in this article. Cape Burkhan is a unique natural monument with a recognizable landscape and a high-status tourist attraction, which is exposed to a high recreational impact. The processes of linear erosion develop in this area most intensively due to the characteristics of the lithological and geological structure and morphological parameters. The anthropogenic factor has the greatest influence on the activation of dangerous geomorphological processes, including erosional ones. As a result of the study, the comprehensive analysis of the territory was carried out: initial conditions, causes, and factors of vegetation and soils degradation, activation of erosion processes. Various approaches to the technological and biological stages of gully rehabilitation were analyzed. Detailed recommendations have been developed to reduce the recreational impact on the relief and carry out restoration work. The proposed approaches to rehabilitation can be used on other gullies on Olkhon Island and the Priolkhonskoe plateau.