Climate Change Impact on Land Degradation and Soil Erosion in Hilly and Mountainous Landscape: Sustainability Issues and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

Soil degradation declines the inherent soil quality, resistance and stability which leads to less productive and highly vulnerable soil. The world’s population is increasing in an exponential rate and through this pressure on land is increasing rapidly. Consequently, to meet the food requirement, cultivation is shifting towards hilly and mountainous terrain where the susceptibility to soil erosion is very high. Soil erosion is a major land degradation issue, which decreases the soil productivity and causes soil carbon loss, which in turn accelerate various climate change processes. The studies reported that, in the context of climate change and due to its ancillary effects, soil erosion is anticipated to intensify at a higher rate in future periods than the baseline. Hence, it was evidenced that climate change has an enormous potential to increase the soil erosion rates. The hilly and mountainous regions are most and first affected regions due to changes in climate. The unsustainable land use practices, steep slopes and climate change are the prime factors which enhance the soil erosion in hilly and mountainous region. Sustainability is the prime key, which can solve the concern of soil erosion. Soil erosion identification, monitoring and quantification using remote sensing and GIS coupled with various erosion models can provide a comprehensive information about the soil erosion processes and its quantity. Studying impact of climate change on soil erosion provides an in-depth knowledge about possible future erosion scenarios. These kinds of impact studies at local scale can generate more beneficial and site-specific measures to overcome soil erosion. Adoption of various site-specific adaptation and mitigation strategies based on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) framework, nature-based solutions and appropriate local government policies can weaken the soil erosion driving forces through a more viable and environment-friendly pathway.