Erosion - Land Use

Agriculture increases the likelihood of erosion by exposing soil to wind and rainfall. However, agriculture is not the only human land use that increases the likelihood of erosion. Logging, construction, landscaping, as well as many other activities make land more susceptible to erosion. Generally, any land use or activity that disturbs the natural vegetation or involves a change in slope, surface materials, etc., will increase the likelihood of erosion. There are some obvious exceptions, though. For example, pavement can temporarily halt erosion in almost all cases. However, nothing resists the erosive power of nature forever—all man-made structures will eventually weather and then fail.