Soil Erosion: A Big Problem With Few Solutions

Long-term food security is set to suffer if the scourge of soil erosion is not brought under control. Dan Pennock, a professor in soil science at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, discusses the extent of the problem and the importance of good soil management.

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Soil erosion continues to be a major threat in many regions of the world, despite decades of focused scientific research and societal concern. In its 2015 ‘Status of the world’s soil resources’ report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated that soil erosion was judged to be the number one threat to soil functions in five of seven regions, namely Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Near East and North Africa, and North America. In the first four, erosion showed a deteriorating trend.

Erosion is a natural geological process and is impossible to stop. The goal is to manage human impact on the soil so that the rate of erosion is within an acceptable range.

Soil erosion is defined as the net long-term balance of all processes that detach soil and move it from its original location. Water, wind and tillage are the three main types of erosion. Each involves distinct processes that detach and transport soil; hence each requires a different approach to decrease the rate of erosion. In some regions of the world, all three types of erosion operate simultaneously on the landscape, and identifying the processes occurring at a location is a key element of erosion control.

Although many technical solutions are available to combat soil erosion, these can be implemented successfully only in the context of a supportive societal environment.

SECURE LAND TENURE