Abstract
The aim of this study was a survey of the estimated costs of soil erosion, an issue of fundamental importance in view of the current worldwide discussions on sustainability. A list was drawn up of research papers on erosion (on-site and off-site effects) and their respective costs. The estimates indicate the amount of resources spent in the process of soil degradation, raising a general awareness of the need for soil conservation. On-site costs affect the production units directly, while off-site costs create a burden borne by the environment, economy and society. In addition, estimating the costs of soil erosion should be effective to alert the agricultural producers, society and government for the need for measures that can be implemented to bring erosion under control. Among the various estimates of soil erosion costs between 1933 a 2010, the highest figure was 45.5 billion dollars a year for the European Union. In the United States, the highest figure was 44 billion dollars a year. In Brazil, estimates for the state of Paraná indicate a value of 242 million dollars a year, and for the state of São Paulo, 212 million dollars a year. These figures show, above all, that conservation measures must be implemented if crop and livestock farming production are to be sustainable.
Highlights
WHY CONSERVE THE SOIL?Soil erosion is an agricultural problem
This study presents a survey of estimated soil erosion costs with a view to stimulate the discussion on the impact of soil erosion on the agricultural activity, environment, economy and society in general
If soil conservation is defined as the effort to modify a trend in soil productivity so as to make it better than it otherwise would be; this implies in a different distribution of investments and annual production than in cases in which the conservationist approach were not adopted
Summary
Soil erosion is an agricultural problem. It is associated with a host of environmental, social and economic issues. If soil conservation is defined as the effort to modify a trend in soil productivity so as to make it better than it otherwise would be; this implies in a different distribution of investments and annual production than in cases in which the conservationist approach were not adopted His analysis was carried out exclusively in terms of expected annual yield, and is valid only in these terms, since it does not take account of the possibility of land valuation as a result of the stabilization of productivity. Due to the time lag between investment and production that conservation almost always involves, reliable comparisons should always be based on the current value and future costs (Hoag & Yong, 1986) This in turn necessarily involves a rate of interest or depreciation, which is always difficult to correctly assess (Wu et al, 1997). The lack of it, is not based solely on profitability
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