Tree roots hold the soil in place. Photo by Maya Walters. |
| Extensive erosion causes landslides. Many landslides begin on clearcut slopes or from the downhill side of steep logging roads. Run-off rainwater collects in these areas and this concentrated water flow begins to wash away the soil. Also, these areas have already been cleared of trees, and this means the soil is already unstable. Tree roots are responsible for holding soil in place, providing a framework that prevents it from eroding away. When trees are cut, the roots often remain in the soil, but eventually they begin to rot. This leads to a great increase in the number of landslides that occur 10 to 20 years after an area has been logged. |
erosion -- page 2 of 3
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related topics
[soil] [water] [roots] [forests through time]
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