How does sediment loss affect land and soil quality?

Soil quality is at risk from a number of reasons, driven by a range of man-made and natural pressures including climate change, land use change, and land management practices.

Human activities have changed the character and the quality of our soils over time. We have destroyed protective vegetation cover and have kept soil bare for long periods of time. We also actively add nutrients and pesticides to soils and cover them with housing and infrastructures. All of these activities can impair, or even destroy, the ability of soil to carry out its essential functions.

Once soil is damaged or contaminated it can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to restore. In some cases, soil can make themselves become sources of pullutants. These pullutants can make their way into watercourses affecting water quality.