Landslides
Environmentalists believe that the primary cause of landslides is deforestation, or the excessive clearing of forests to make way for infrastructure development. Trees play a major role in preventing landslides. The roots of trees hold the soil together and prevent it from becoming loose by water. At the same time, trees help the soil absorb water, preventing runoff. Clearing of trees in an elevated area causes the occurrence of landslides.
Loss of the Soil's Top Layer
Another negative impact of soil erosion is the loss of nutrient-rich soil that crops need. The topmost layer of soil, which is rich in nutrients, get blown away by the wind due to drought, or gets washed away by flood because of the lack of plants to hold them. The remaining layers can no longer support the growth of new plants.
