Why Is Soil Erosion Dangerous?

Soil erosion is the wearing away of topsoil and other soil components necessary for plants to grow. The movement of water, wind and ice all contribute to soil erosion. Humans have increased erosion in many parts of the world through land overuse, poor agricultural practices such as overgrazing, and deforestation. While erosion is a natural process, exacerbated levels of erosion may endanger our ecosystem.

Soil erosion reduces the amount of food that can be produced worldwide, driving up food prices and increasing hunger. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers estimates that erosion is damaging 29% of the land used to grow crops in the United States. The United Nations Environment Programme claims that a more than a quarter of the land on the continent of Africa is becoming unsuitable for agriculture due to soil degradation caused by erosion.

Replacing the nutrients and water retention lost by soil erosion is a major expense for the agricultural industry in the United States and worldwide. In their article "Environmental and Economic Costs of Soil Erosion and Conservation Benefits," David Pimentel et al. estimate that 10% of agricultural expenses in the United States currently are utilized to offset the nutrient and water loss in soil used for growing crops. Pimental et al. also conclude that escalating wind erosion increases healthcare, home maintenance and road maintenance costs for consumers.

The environmental damage caused by soil erosion can be devastating. Erosion of chemical-laden soil into rivers contributes to vast ecological damage. An example of this damage is the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico -- a 6,000- to 7,000-square-mile area in the Gulf of Mexico with little to no animal life and vegetation. Massive amounts of fertilizer from soil erosion are emptied into the Mississippi River. This influx causes algae to grow out of control, depleting the oxygen levels in this area of the Gulf so much that almost no life can survive there. Erosion can also increase the risk of flooding and the effects of desertification.

Soil erosion can reduce water quality, impacting available clean water supplies as well as recreational use of water for fishing, boating and swimming. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers concludes that up to 40% of streams and 45% of lakes and reservoirs are polluted by sediment from erosion. Because it is only safe to swim and fish in unpolluted water, the rise of soil erosion will lead to fewer streams and lakes available for recreational use.