Editing Deforestation (section)

==== Soil erosion ====
[[File:Erp - 20111006 (6).jpg|thumb|Deforestation in [[France]].]]
Due to surface [[plant litter]], forests that are undisturbed have a minimal rate of [[erosion]]. The rate of erosion occurs from deforestation, because it decreases the amount of litter cover, which provides protection from [[surface runoff]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Soil Erosion and Conservation|last=Morgan|first=R.P.C|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2009|isbn=9781405144674|pages=343}}</ref> The rate of erosion is around 2 metric tons per square kilometre.<ref name="Homestead">{{Cite book|title=21st Century Homestead: Sustainable Agriculture III: Agricultural Practices|last=Henkel|first=Marlon|date=22 February 2015|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781312939752|pages=110}}{{self-published source|date=February 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}} This can be an advantage in excessively leached tropical rain forest soils. Forestry operations themselves also increase erosion through the [[road building|development of]] ([[forest road|forest]]) [[road]]s and the use of mechanized equipment.<ref name="IPCC_AR6" />

Deforestation in China's Loess Plateau many years ago has led to soil erosion; this erosion has led to valleys opening up. The increase of soil in the runoff causes the Yellow River to flood and makes it yellow-colored.<ref name="Homestead" />

Greater erosion is not always a consequence of deforestation, as observed in the southwestern regions of the US. In these areas, the loss of grass due to the presence of trees and other shrubbery leads to more erosion than when trees are removed.<ref name="Homestead" />

Soils are reinforced by the presence of trees, which secure the soil by binding their roots to soil bedrock. Due to deforestation, the removal of trees causes sloped lands to be more susceptible to [[Landslide|landslides.]]<ref name="Mishra-2010">{{Cite book|title=Fundamental Concept in Environmental Studies|last=Mishra|first=D.D.|publisher=S. Chand Publishing|year=2010|isbn=978-8121929370|pages=14–15}}</ref>