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5.1 soil erosion in rodrigues
One of the major problems in Rodrigues is soil erosion. The relief of the island is hilly.
There are many steep valleys and slopes. In the past, most of the trees were cut down
for wood and forests cleared for agriculture.
Soil erosion occurs when the topsoil is removed. It occurs during heavy rains.
More top soil is carried away when forests are cleared or when there are very few or no trees.
Plants bind the topsoil and prevent it from being washed away easily.
1. Use the words given below to complete the table.
Steep slopes, deforestation*, overgrazing, planting of crops on steep slopes, heavy rainfall
* (removal of forest)
ACTIVITY causes of soil erosion
Natural cause
1. 3.
2. 4.
5.
Caused by people activities
table 6 causes of soil erosion
FIG. 17 soil erosion FIG. 18 DEFORESTATION
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