Why
Protecting forests and trees are essential for warding off environmental degradation and rural poverty. In spite of the significance of forests and tree-based resources, present trends are not encouraging. Forest resources continue to be poorly managed and not used rationally. Deforestation mainly occur due to clearing for agriculture in areas not suitable for this purpose, fire wood collection, and urban and infrastructure development. [1]
How
LEAD-Nepal, participated in planting tree, shrubs, bamboos in areas prone to land slide. In some areas terrace farming was promoted in order manipulates the water flow preventing from gathering speed and washing soil from farmlands. Contour farming was also implemented since crops planted parallel to the land slow the flow of water that prevents soil erosion, in open land trees and shrubs were planted as windbreakers which prevent soil erosion by slowing the force of the wind over open ground. Wetlands were also restored which is one of the most effective ways to prevent soil erosion. Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and preventing it from carrying the soil away. They also provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife and help prevent water pollution. We also planted mixture of grasses, shrubs and trees as buffer strips along stream banks which helped hold stream banks intact during times of flooding.
[1] David Pimentel and Nadia Kounang, Ecology of Soil Erosion in Ecosystems