Reduced soil erosion

Soil erosion is the detachment and transportation of soil and its deposition at another site by the agents of wind, water or gravitational effects.  Erosion occurs under natural conditions but can be accelerated by human activities, such as vegetation clearing, overgrazing and infrastructure construction. 

There are several types of erosion:

•  Water erosion where soil is eroded and transported by water, e.g.
  • Splash or raindrop erosion
  • Hillslope erosion
  • Gully erosion
• Wind erosion where soil eroded and transported by wind
• Wave erosion where soil is eroded and transported by the action of waves.

Suggested indicators: Hillslope erosion⁺, Gully erosion⁺, Wind erosion⁺

Reduced soil erosion may be associated with:

Potenital associated impacts	Suggested indicators+
Reduced loss of nutrient-rich top soil leading to better soil fertility and growth of vegetation	Ground cover Shrub cover Tree canopy cover & health Weed cover Organic litter Native vegetation area Vegetation density Impacts on native vegetation
Improved water quality due to reduced amount of eroded sediments washing into waterways	Fine sediment in water Phosphates in water Nitrates in water pH of water Temperature of water

⁺ Descriptions of indicators (PDF, 76K)* provides a brief description of each indicator including techniques and purpose.

* Requires Adobe Reader

Last updated 7 September 2010

Land Manager's Monitoring Guide

• Monitoring overview
• Selecting indicators
• - Enterprise or production systems
• - Land practices
• - Management activity
• - Impact
• Indicators