Deforestation is well known for aggravating erosion. Bare soil has no protection against heavy rain, washing away immediately. On hillsides, it readily turns into mudslides leaving people very little time to seek refuge and cutting deep ravines into the earth. And where deforested land was turned into cultivated fields, the soil is likely to be overused and exploited through intensive use of fertilizer.

Year: 2006

From collection: Environment and Poverty Times #3: Disaster issue

Cartographer: Emmanuelle Bournay

Tags: environment poverty