Soil erosion and land-use change during the last six millennia recorded in lake sediments of Gudme Sø, Fyn, Denmark

The Danish landscape is characterised by low relief and consequently the risk of soil erosion is low compared to many central and southern European countries with more variable terrain (European Environment Agency 2000; Van der Knijff et al. 2000). However, even in countries with less intensive erosion, water-induced soil erosion is recognised as an increasingly important environmental issue due to its role in the transport of nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants to rivers, lakes and coastal waters (e.g. Stone 2000).