Historical Overview of Methods for Recording Erosion Processes on the Territory of the Republic of Serbia

Erosion is a significant environmental challenge in Serbia, shaped by natural and human factors. Pronounced relief, fragile geological substrate, a developed hydrographic network, and a cli-mate characterized by uneven distribution of precipitation throughout the year, make this area prone to activating erosion processes and flash floods whenever there is a significant disruption in ecological balance, whether due to the removal of vegetation cover or inadequate land use. Researchers have recorded approximately 11,500 torrents in Serbia, most of which were activat-ed during the 19th century, a period of significant social and political change, as well as inten-sive deforestation and irrational exploitation of natural resources. By the mid-19th century, the effects of land degradation were impossible to ignore. As the adequate assessment of soil ero-sion intensity is the initial step in developing a prevention and protection strategy and the type and scope of anti-erosion works and measures, this article presents the path that the anti-erosion field in Serbia has taken, from the initial observations of erosion processes through the first at-tempts to create the Barren Land Cadastre and Torrent Cadaster to the creation of Erosion Poten-tial Method (EPM), the first Erosion Map of SR Serbia in 1971 and the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies in the XXI century.