Soil Degradation

Soil degradation is a process describing the loss of equilibrium in stable soil, usually as a result of a change in climate or vegetation of the area by the replacement of a primary plant community by a secondary community. This change in climate results in a change in composition, amount and formation of the soil. The main cause of soil degradation is erosion (see land erosion). Soil degradation can have many negative consequences including natural disasters such as mud flows and floods, a decrease in water quality, and the loss of biodiversity in impacted regions.