How can we stop our land from being degraded in Connecticut?

Posted by Adam Hoffman on

Land DegredationIt is estimated that 25% of the world’s land area has been affected by land degradation. It has accelerated enormously during the past decade, causing loss of biodiversity, poverty, and hunger. The impact on the global economy is huge, and it is taking away precious resources that are vital to us. The need to minimize land degradation has never been this critical, and solutions must be made to conserve and restore our land.

Preventing Land Degradation

1. One of the main causes of land degradation is soil erosion. The best way to minimize this is to plant trees and grass to prevent heavy rains from washing away the topsoil from our land. This process does not only keep the topsoil from being washed away or getting blown from its place, but it also prevents the land from drying up.

2. Applying fertilizers over the soil adds a protective layer that prevents rain and strong wind from directly beating down on the land and causing erosion. It also helps regain the soil’s PH levels and regulates the soil’s water intake.

3. Farmers and gardeners should implement conservation tillage by avoiding stripping the land bare and leaving some vegetation, flower or grass, on the land. We can implement this by distributing some plants or grass between several vegetables or flower beds. This method will help keep the soil protected and healthy.

4. Another way to prevent land degradation is through Matting. Matting is a process of using materials, such as wood fiber, and placing them on top of vacant plots and vegetable gardens to regulate water intake. This also prevents soil erosion at the same time.

5. Constructing walls and windbreakers in areas that are commonly affected by heavy rains can prevent water erosion from damaging the soil. We can use bricks, or even trees and plants, to act as a wall to protect vegetable and flower plots.

Key Takeaways:

  • Planting trees and grass does not only keep the topsoil from being washed away or getting blown from its place, but it also prevents the land from drying up.
  • Applying fertilizers over the soil adds a protective layer that prevents rain and strong wind from directly beating down on the land and causing erosion.
Image Courtesy of: freedigitalphotos.net