Why Should You Grow More Plants or Trees to Reduce Erosion?

Definition of Soil Erosion

• Soil erosion is the loss of top soil from naturally developed soil surfaces on the Earth's crust. Natural soil formation is a slow process and takes hundreds of thousands of years as wind and water break down the rock and organic materials that ultimately turn into soil. Naturally occurring erosion takes equally as long, resulting in the formation and reformation of forests, deserts and mountainous areas. It is the accelerated rate of soil erosion that is of concern in connection to environmental health.

Causes of Accelerated Erosion

• Deforestation, certain agricultural practices and fire contribute to accelerated soil erosion. Logging without tree renewal results in large swatches of land left bare. Over-grazing and excessive tilling of agricultural lands leave top soil vulnerable to wind and rain; these natural forces move the soil, sweeping it into rivers and waterways. When the natural density of plants and trees has been disturbed on a large scale, land is exposed and the nutrient-rich top soil erodes.

Trees and Plants Anchor the Soil

• From the sparse desert areas to the dense rain forests, plants and trees burrow their roots into the soil. The root systems anchor the plants and trees while simultaneously holding the soil in place. Throughout the life cycles of flora, the soil is fed by dropped leaves, stems and branches, as well as fruits and seeds, and by decaying plant material. The plant population continues to renew itself and the flora grows as root systems draw nutrients from the continually renewed soil. If the plants and trees are removed, and the top soil erodes, no plant life is able to grow in that area; the nutrient-rich layer of soil is gone.

Preventing Soil Erosion

• The logging and agricultural industries can reduce and prevent accelerated soil erosion through managed reforestation and less-invasive tilling practices. The commercial and residential construction industries can incorporate appropriate landscaping of trees and plants into projects to anchor surrounding soils. Trees and plants can be planted along eroding shorelines and hilly inlands where plant and tree removal have altered the terrain, causing gully formation and barren swatches of land. Accelerated erosion could eventually result in there being a limited amount of land able to support plants and trees, for agricultural use or logging, resulting in higher pollution and fewer resources.