48
Keywords Hydropower dams • Interbasin transfer projects • Navigation •
Restoration • Biodiversity • Global change • Anthropocene • Terraforming
4.1 Introduction
“Welcome to the Anthropocene”, entitled The Economist on 21 May 2011. The
Anthropocene indicates a geological epoch that follows the Holocene. Since the
beginning of the industrial revolution, human activities have altered how the world
functions. We have globally, fundamentally, in the long-term, and in most cases
irreversibly modifi ed the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and particularly the
biosphere (Steffen et al. 2011 ; Rockström et al. 2014 ). And we are just at the beginning of this new epoch. There is general agreement that the transformation of our
globe takes speed, with consequences that may threaten our own survival. Indeed,
we are probably not able to imagine, or at least it sounds like science fi ction (e.g.
Pendell 2010 ), which alterations we will face in the coming decades to centuries.
This includes, for example, the widespread creation of synthetic organisms, the
exploitation of the ocean fl oor, the large-scale loss of coastal areas, the collapse of
deltas, and a 4–8 °C warmer globe. We urgently need to understand the future
dimension of this epoch and the consequences for the environment and the humans
alike. And we need to consider fundamentally new strategies on how to cope with
the immense challenges we are facing.
“Terraforming”, i.e. the remaking of the earth surface, is not science fi ction.
Indeed, it is taking gear too. In China, for example, whole mountain ranges are levelled off to create space for new cities (Li et al. 2009 ). Mining activities reshape
increasingly the earth surface because of an increasing demand for minerals and the
concurrent depletion of resources. We dry-up entire river basins, truncate the global
fl uvial sediment transport, alter the global biogeochemical cycles and transform
forests, steppes and deserts for crop and biomass production (e.g. Hooke and
Martín-Duque 2012 , Table 1). Terraforming not only requires land but also consumes huge amounts of energy and water.
At the same time, our planet is facing a major water crisis. Population growth and
economic development are strongly increasing the global freshwater demand, while
climate change further exacerbates the uneven distribution of water. The water crisis
is spreading through all sectors, from sanitation, drinking water supply, agriculture
and energy. Therefore, the signals of the Anthropocene are particularly evident in the
freshwater domain (Table 4.1 ). Nutrient enrichment, exploitation of fossil groundwater reservoirs, fragmentation of river networks, alteration of the fl ow, sediment and
thermal regimes, shrinking deltas and the accelerating erosion of freshwater biodiversity are clear signs of the rapid transformation of aquatic systems.
The water sector represents an immense market and the projected global expenditure on water and waste-water services is steadily increasing: from USD 576
K. Tockner et al.
Keywords Hydropower dams • Interbasin transfer projects • Navigation •
Restoration • Biodiversity • Global change • Anthropocene • Terraforming
4.1 Introduction
“Welcome to the Anthropocene”, entitled The Economist on 21 May 2011. The
Anthropocene indicates a geological epoch that follows the Holocene. Since the
beginning of the industrial revolution, human activities have altered how the world
functions. We have globally, fundamentally, in the long-term, and in most cases
irreversibly modifi ed the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and particularly the
biosphere (Steffen et al. 2011 ; Rockström et al. 2014 ). And we are just at the beginning of this new epoch. There is general agreement that the transformation of our
globe takes speed, with consequences that may threaten our own survival. Indeed,
we are probably not able to imagine, or at least it sounds like science fi ction (e.g.
Pendell 2010 ), which alterations we will face in the coming decades to centuries.
This includes, for example, the widespread creation of synthetic organisms, the
exploitation of the ocean fl oor, the large-scale loss of coastal areas, the collapse of
deltas, and a 4–8 °C warmer globe. We urgently need to understand the future
dimension of this epoch and the consequences for the environment and the humans
alike. And we need to consider fundamentally new strategies on how to cope with
the immense challenges we are facing.
“Terraforming”, i.e. the remaking of the earth surface, is not science fi ction.
Indeed, it is taking gear too. In China, for example, whole mountain ranges are levelled off to create space for new cities (Li et al. 2009 ). Mining activities reshape
increasingly the earth surface because of an increasing demand for minerals and the
concurrent depletion of resources. We dry-up entire river basins, truncate the global
fl uvial sediment transport, alter the global biogeochemical cycles and transform
forests, steppes and deserts for crop and biomass production (e.g. Hooke and
Martín-Duque 2012 , Table 1). Terraforming not only requires land but also consumes huge amounts of energy and water.
At the same time, our planet is facing a major water crisis. Population growth and
economic development are strongly increasing the global freshwater demand, while
climate change further exacerbates the uneven distribution of water. The water crisis
is spreading through all sectors, from sanitation, drinking water supply, agriculture
and energy. Therefore, the signals of the Anthropocene are particularly evident in the
freshwater domain (Table 4.1 ). Nutrient enrichment, exploitation of fossil groundwater reservoirs, fragmentation of river networks, alteration of the fl ow, sediment and
thermal regimes, shrinking deltas and the accelerating erosion of freshwater biodiversity are clear signs of the rapid transformation of aquatic systems.
The water sector represents an immense market and the projected global expenditure on water and waste-water services is steadily increasing: from USD 576
K. Tockner et al.