ABSTRACT
The erosion of soil by water and wind is linked intimately with the cultivation of land, which can be traced back to at least 5000 BC (Goudie, 2000). Natural rates of erosion tend to be highest in semi-arid regions of the world, where sparse vegetation cover and intense climatic conditions combine to generate significant erosive potential. Historically, rates of soil loss by erosion have been lower in temperate and tropical regions, where more continuous vegetation cover reduces the erosive potential of heavy rainstorms or strong winds. The repeated cultivation of land for crop production and the removal of protective forest cover have resulted in soil becoming more vulnerable to erosion. The consequences of these losses can be severe not only for the productive capacity of the land, but also for habitats and environments downstream or downwind where products of erosion are deposited.
