International Symposium on Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering Ohrid/Macedonia, 1-5 September 2009 Paper: A02 Karst Landscape Ecohydrology Ognjen Bonacci University of Split, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Split, Croatia, e-mail: obonacci@gradst.hr Abstract. Karst represents a specific area consisting of surface-relief and sur- face-underground hydrographic networks resulting from water circulation and its aggressive chemical and physical action in conduits, joints, fractures, bed- ding plains and cracks along the layers of soluble rocks. It is a highly vulner- able and variable water and ecological system in both time and space. Karst systems have great significance for biodiversity conservation and very often they represent important cultural heritage. Karst ecosystems have been indi- cated as priority parts of biological and landscape diversity protection, which requires a specific approach. The objective of this paper was to analyse anthro- pogenic influences on the karst environment using concepts of karstology and karst ecohydrology. The paper describes some special issues on which karstol- ogy and karst ecohydrology should focus their interests: caves, karst landscape, dry stonewalls, stone clearing and wildfires in karst regions. Keywords: Karst ecohydrology, karstology, anthropogenic influence, caves, dry stone- wall 1 Introduction One billion people in about 40 countries live in areas characterized by karst forma- tion. Karstification is a geological process which creates especially vulnerable land- scapes requiring extremely careful management. Common environmental problems to these fragile landscapes are: desertification, fast and massive groundwater pollution, the collapse of land, wildfire, and flooding and droughts. There is a close relationship between processes of soil formation and karstification. The karstification process occurs in fissured limestones and dolomites as a consequence of dissolution and weathering. Soils develop along these fissures, cracks and bedding planes where water accumulates, further enhancing weathering and soil formation. With the pro-