erosionprevention

Erosion prevention refers to a set of practices and engineering measures designed to reduce soil loss and land degradation caused by erosion processes. It aims to protect soil resources, preserve water quality, and safeguard infrastructure and productivity by limiting the detachment and transport of soil particles by wind, water, and coastal forces.

Erosion occurs when forces such as rainfall, surface runoff, wind, and wave action remove soil from the land. Water erosion includes sheet, rill, and gully erosion; wind erosion is common on dry or sparsely vegetated soils; coastal erosion involves waves, tides, and storm surge. Factors that influence erosion risk include soil properties, slope steepness, vegetation cover, rainfall intensity, land use, and management history. Effective prevention integrates land management, structural measures, and ecological restoration to reduce susceptibility and mitigate sediment transport.

Prevention measures span several approaches. Vegetation-based methods seek to maintain or increase ground cover with cover crops, crop residues, and mulches, and to stabilize slopes with vegetated buffers, grasses, and windbreaks. Agricultural practices such as conservation tillage, no-till farming, crop rotation, and residue management reduce runoff and soil exposure. Structural measures include contour farming, terraces, check dams, stone or concrete walls, gabions, riprap, and improved drainage or sediment basins to stabilize slopes and trap sediment. Coastal and urban contexts use dune stabilization, beach nourishment, seawalls or revetments, and green infrastructure to reduce erosion and manage runoff. Planning and monitoring, including erosion risk assessment, modelling, and periodic maintenance of practices, support long-term effectiveness.