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Is deforested land more prone to landslides?

Wednesday, February 17, 2021
By Lisa Freedland
YES

According to research published in 2019 by the American Geophysical Union, the reduced evaporation and weakened root reinforcement of soil caused by deforestation can increase the chances of a landslide.

Studying the relationship between landslides and different types of forest alterations, researchers found that “large and interconnected deforested tracts” caused large landslides that occurred within a few years. Smaller-scale forest conversion was associated with smaller landslides but the risk of a landslide extended to more than 10 years after the initial deforestation.

A researcher from Oregon Wild, an organization dedicated to protecting Oregon‘s wildlands, found that on average, clearcuts (deforested areas) exhibited landslide rates 13 times higher than in forested areas.

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