Landslide Zones Research Articles

A case study on causation of the landslide on 26 October 2016 in the northern Colombian Andes

This paper presents the results of a technical investigation on the causation of the landslide that occurred in Las Nieves quarry on October 26, 2016 in the municipality of Copacabana, located in the northern part of the Colombian Andes. This landslide caused the highest number of fatalities in Colombia in 2016, totalling 16 deaths. The study included field visits, soil sampling, study of the geology and geomorphology, as well as analysis of rainfall and groundwater flows presented in the area. The information collected in this study is consistent with the hypothesis that the regional groundwater flow which comes from recharge zones, generated an increase in water levels in the landslide zone thus triggering the landslide. Finally, a stability analysis (statistical analysis and sensitivity analysis) was performed using the limit equilibrium method, where the effect of the rise in the ground water table was modelled as the trigger. The results of the stability analysis showed a low safety factor for the slope, even when low water levels were considered.

The mechanisms of complex morphological features of a prehistorical landslide on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Studying the morphological features and triggers of prehistorical giant landslides provides important information about landslide kinematics and dynamics. This study investigates a typical prehistorical giant landslide: the Luanshibao (LSB) landslide on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The LSB landslide is a typical long-runout (H/L = 0.207) giant granite landslide detached from a narrow ridge as a wedge failure cut by conjugate fissures that are widespread in the mountain. Two-stage failure produced the current deposit landforms: the first failure occurred at 3675±25~3580±25 a BP; the second failure occurred at 2180±49~2005±25 a BP. These two failures occurred during ancient seismic episodes, and earthquakes were potentially the triggers. The second failure reworked local morphological units of deposits forming the sliding zone (multistage platforms and local scarps), local landslide zone (3 local landslides), and deposit zone (transverse ridges, cross ridges, oblique ridges, and hummocks) due to different mechanical states.

Oxidation of black shale and its deterioration mechanism in the slip zone of the Xujiaping landslide in Sichuan Province, Southwestern China

This work investigated the chemical water–rock interaction of black shale interbedded with limestone along a bedding slip zone and how its deterioration affects the surrounding rock mass in the Xujiaping (XJP) landslide. Many dissolved pits were found on the limestone, and geochemical phenomena were investigated. Rock and water samples from the site were analysed for mineralogy, chemical composition and hydrochemistry. In slip zones, water–rock chemical processes occur in the bedding fractures of interface between black shale and limestone. Thus, a bedding water–rock cyclic reaction experiment was designed with limestone, black shale and black shale interbedded with limestone. Many major elements and heavy elements (Fe, Mn, Si, Zn, Ni, Al, S, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Co and Sr) dissolved out, demonstrating that strong dissolution occurred because of the acidic water during the black shale water–rock interaction. The limestone neutralized the acidic water through black shale oxidation in the interfacial fractures between black shale and limestone, causing deterioration of the slip zone. The acidic water from the fissure network inside the black shale strata migrated along the bedding to the exposed surfaces of cliffs and rock fractures, then evaporated to form secondary mineral phases, including melanterite, rozenite, szomolnokite, and gypsum. The water–rock chemical interaction in the XJP landslide included dissolution, oxidation, dehydration, and neutralization reactions. The accumulation trends and hydrochemical properties at different reaction stages of ions dissolved from the surrounding rock mass in the bedding direction were revealed. The deterioration mechanism was expanded: (i) rock-forming and carbonate minerals were especially prone to dissolution by sulfuric acid from black shale oxidation in the slip zone, and (ii) volume expansion due to the crystallization force of precipitated minerals caused further fracture expansion and deformation. Therefore, geochemical analyses can effectively elucidate the long-term development and nature of slip zones in landslide investigations.

Failure mechanism and stability analysis of a reactivated landslide occurrence in Yanyuan City, China

This paper presents a recent rainfall-induced reactivated compound soil slide in Yanyuan County, China, on July 19, 2018. In this paper, according to the elaborate investigation of the soil slide area at field and prefailure slope stability analysis, the corresponding failure mechanisms are comprehensively studied. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on remote sensing, three-dimensional modelling, in situ and laboratory experimental testing, borehole exploration, and numerical simulation were carried out in this work. According to the results, two different sliding processes were identified involving the main sliding and lateral collapse. The main sliding occurred as multiple stages along with two different types of slip zones, which involve a preexisting basal zone of the ancient landslide and an interlaminar shear zone within the ancient landslide deposits. The predominance of reactivated surface geomorphology provides a clue to elucidate the dominant compound movement of the event. Unconsolidated sliding mass and the basal sliding surface are ideal for the development of the reactivation motion. Saltatory microrelief of the original slope determined the retrogressive failure type of the soil slide. The well-developed groundwater in the landslide area significantly increased the soil mass saturation, with an average saturation value of 98%, formed dominant seepage in the sliding mass, and promoted landslide reactivation. Furthermore, rainwater infiltration due to 14 days’ antecedent cumulative rainfall of 350.6 mm directly contributed to the occurrence of the landslide by increasing the pore water pressure in the slope. The maximum shear plastic strain and displacement obtained by numerical simulation show that the lateral slope was unstable with the removal of the main sliding. Because the soil slide is located in the west area of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), it is a partial resurrection of the ancient basalt landslide. Therefore, this study has a certain significance for revealing the reactivated mechanism of basalt ancient landslide.

Landslide vulnerability assessment using gis and remote sensing techniques: a case study from Garut – Tasikmalaya road

Road constructions, especially in mountainous topographical features, have been noted responsible for the significant increase of landslide occurrences. In the Garut – Tasikmalaya Road, numerous landslides have been recorded causing enormous losses. This road has a very important role as the main transportation connector between two regencies in West Java; those are Garut and Tasikmalaya Regency. To deal and control such problems, spatial distributions of landslide vulnerability need to be analyzed. The aim of this study was to assess the widespread landslide vulnerability zones along the Garut – Tasikmalaya Road. The landslide triggering factors, i.e. topographic slope, land use, lithology, distance to geological structure and distance to stream, were spatially evaluated and integrated using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and simple numerical rating method to determine the landslide vulnerability zones. The data of landslide triggering factors were derived from remote sensing data and processed using GIS technology. The data integration produced landslide vulnerability map along the Garut – Tasikmalaya Road, which delineates the research area into three zones of landslide vulnerability (high, moderate, and low). The landslide vulnerability map was validated using landslide inventory. The high vulnerability zones of landslide, that will affect the Garut – Tasikmalaya Road, are mainly located in the Salawu District.

Use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography in investigating the internal structure of a landslide and its groundwater characterization (Nanka Landslide, Anambra State, Nigeria)

ABSTRACT Over two decades, this landslide in Nanka Community, Anambra State, Nigeria, in the eastern phase of Awka-Orlu upland, has been active and persistent, defying many control measures that have been put in place and causing the loss of property, lives, and assets to increase. As a result, this research work involves the study of geo-engineering and geophysical measurements of the slide site to delineate the aerial scale and direction of movement of the landslide zone, determine the lithological portion, estimate the thickness of the sliding sheet, and delineate the water-saturated areas. The data was collected using ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000 and ABEM LUND ES464 electrode selector system and processed using RES2DINV software for a 2D subsurface image. During data acquisition, a Wenner array was set-up as this array is capable of imaging deeper profile data, and apparent resistivity is easily calculated in the field. The results of the models indicate that the study area was mainly clayey and sandstone formation with mostly low resistivity values correspond to the shale layers and groundwater zones. However, gravel deposit was also present in some areas, as indicated by both the imaging and geological measurements.

Application of combined electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction tomography (SRT) methods to investigate Xiaoshan District landslide site: Hangzhou, China

Near surface geophysical methods have been used extensively as non-invasive and cost-effective methods to characterize subsurface geological properties over the past two decades. Since these approaches are able to illustrate the temporal and spatial changes of geological conditions, they are applied for the characterization of landslide zones. Landslides are one of many natural disasters that cause life and property losses. Landslide mechanisms are affected by topsoil materials, bedrock geometry, and subsurface water content. This paper presents study results for a landslide area located in the Xiaoshan district in Hangzhou City, China. The 2D seismic P-wave refraction tomography (SRT) and 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) methods were used to characterize the landslides in this area. The ERT technique was applied using four lines over and outside of the landslide scar using the Wenner electrode configuration. The SRT study was performed along four longitudinal profiles coincident with the ERT lines. Samples from two boreholes, located on two different profiles, and SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) testing provided calibration for of ERT and SRT measurements. The results of the combined techniques have defined the layers associated with sand and high clay content as well as the geometry of failure surfaces.

Application of Radar Polarimetry to Monitor Changes in Backscattering Mechanisms in Landslide Zones Using the Example of the Collapse of the Bureya River Bank

Possibilities of using radar polarimetry methods for identifying landslide zones are analyzed. The transformation of the dominant mechanism of signal scattering by the reflecting surface was used as a key feature of landslide zones. The polarimetric data from the PALSAR-2 radar of the ALOS-2 satellite are processed using the Freeman–Durden and Cloude–Pottier decompositions at four test sites selected in the region of the landslide caused by the collapse of the bank of the Bureya River. It is found that the results of decompositions are consistent with each other; however, in some areas there are significant differences due to the specific features of the basic model assumptions. It is shown that, before the descent of the landslide masses, three main mechanisms of radar signal scattering existed in the analyzed region: single surface, volumetric, and double scattering. After the collapse, this area was dominated by single scattering characteristic of the reflective surface with large-scale irregularities free of vegetation, due to which the landslide descent zone can be confidently recognized. The significant potential of using radar polarimetry for remote diagnostics of the consequences of landslide phenomena has been demonstrated.

Monitoring the State of the Landslide Zone on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 with Radar and Optical Satellite Images

Results are presented from monitoring the current state of the area of the landslide on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 using images from synthetic aperture radars and optical sensors of the Sentinel multisatellite system. Differential radar interferometry shows the stability of the landslide’s surface in the first four months after the landslide and since the end of July 2019. The small-scale dynamics of the surface are revealed within the landslide circus. It is shown that interferometry cannot be used to observe large modifications of the shoreline, in contrast to optical images, where the effects of the collapse of shoreline fragments and shoreline flooding were clearly observed. Ongoing landslide activity within the landslide circus and area of shoreline collapse is detected using satellite images. Continuous monitoring of this and other dangerous landslide zones on the Bureya River is needed.

Mapping Landslide Hazard Risk Using Random Forest Algorithm in Guixi, Jiangxi, China

Landslide hazards affect the security of human life and property. Mapping the spatial distribution of landslide hazard risk is critical for decision-makers to implement disaster prevention measures. This study aimed to predict and zone landslide hazard risk, using Guixi County in eastern Jiangxi, China, as an example. An integrated dataset composed of 21 geo-information layers, including lithology, rainfall, altitude, slope, distances to faults, roads and rivers, and thickness of the weathering crust, was used to achieve the aim. Non-digital layers were digitized and assigned weights based on their landslide propensity. Landslide locations and non-risk zones (flat areas) were both vectorized as polygons and randomly divided into two groups to create a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%). Using this training set, the Random Forests (RF) algorithm, which is known for its accurate prediction, was applied to the integrated dataset for risk modeling. The results were assessed against the validation set. Overall accuracy of 91.23% and Kappa Coefficient of 0.82 were obtained. The calculated probability for each pixel was consequently graded into different zones for risk mapping. Hence, we conclude that landslide risk zoning using the RF algorithm can serve as a pertinent reference for local government in their disaster prevention and early warning measures.

INTEGRATION OF GIS AND ADVANCED REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES FOR LANDSLIDE HAZARD ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY OF NORTHWEST SYRIA

Abstract. Landslide susceptibility and hazard mapping has been developed providing remarkable results through the integration of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing. In this regard, some approaches have considered the use of Sentinel-1 data and time-series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) techniques, such as differential InSAR (D-InSAR) and persistent scatterers interferometric (PSI), for providing precise information about total amount and velocity of ground-surface deformations and landslides within a specific area during a specific time period which is important for disaster management’s planning process.In this paper, artificial neural network (ANN) was used as a statistical analysis method for landslide susceptibility mapping in Northwest Syria using multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network on a training dataset of one dependent variable (landslide or non-landslide) and nine independent variables (slope, aspect, curvature, land cover, NDVI, lithology, distance from faults, distance from road, distance from stream networks). The resulting map of landslide susceptibility was validated using area under curve (AUC) analysis using a testing dataset which showed 90.28% of AUC value. Then, landslide susceptibility map was reclassified into high-moderate-low classes and integrated with intensity map of mean velocity of ground-surface deformations during the time period form (16 October 2018) until (21 March 2019) by using a landslide hazard matrix in a GIS environment in order to get landslide hazard map of the study area for that time period. The result shows that around 44.4%, 52.9% and 2.5% of total study area was classified as a high, moderate and low hazard zone of landslide, respectively.

Failure analysis of a natural gas pipeline subjected to landslide

This paper presents the results of failure analysis of a 16-in. natural gas pipeline that ruptured due to ground movement caused by a 40 m wide landslide. The rupture occurred at a girth weld in the middle of a double bend located 120 m from the center of the landslide. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method was used to evaluate the response of the pipeline to the ground displacement. The pipeline and the surrounding soil were simulated by the Winkler-type beam-on-spring model and nonlinear static analyses were carried out to establish the root cause of the failure. The results of the analyses indicated that the ground movement was primarily resisted by the membrane action of the pipeline. The pipe axial force due to the membrane action extended well beyond the landslide zone and encompassed the bend region. The axial force at the bend location caused high local shear and bending moment in the bend region. Assessment of the state of stresses on three girth welds in the bend region indicated that the rupture was mainly due to the high shear demand on the girth weld in the middle of the bend.This study indicates that fabricated bends are vulnerable if they are placed within a critical length of the pipeline where the landslide-induced axial force is substantial. To reduce the risk of pipe rupture in pipelines crossing a potential landslide, fabricated bends should be avoided along this critical length. The critical length of a pipeline crossing a potential landslide includes the landslide zone and the anchor length on either side of the landslide. This study also indicates that the anchor length calculated by the relevant equation in the PRCI guidelines may underestimate the actual anchor length.

A comparative study of soil processes in depletion and accumulation zones of permafrost landslides in Siberia

Landslides are one of the main reasons for permafrost degradation in high latitudes. Any landslides consist of different top-down slope zones: removal, transit-depletion, and accumulation zones. These slope parts can demonstrate different successional behavior of plant community and carbon (C) cycling during post-sliding seral stages. To address this issue, soil respiration (SR), hydrothermal conditions (mineral soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm (ST5, °C), and gravimetric soil water content at a depth of 0–5 cm in mineral soil horizon (SWC5, %)), total soil C (TC) and nitrogen (TN) contents, and soil microbial activity at the middle (depletion zone) and lower (accumulation zone) slope parts of the landslides with different history have been studied. The most significant differences between the middle and lower slope positions were found at the ground microsites (or G-plots) of the L2001 landslide. Thus, here, a midslope part occurred to be a high source of C compared to the lower part. Midslope of L2001 was characterized by significantly higher SR at G-plots as well because of better hydrothermal conditions and more intensive vegetation regeneration. The accumulation zone of L2001 characterized by the lower SR despite significantly higher microbial activity due to the high nutrient level of the soil moved from the top, likely favored to promotion of the soil C stabilization processes. Despite the registered ST5 differences in the E-plots and the G-plots between middle and lower slope positions of the L1972 landslide, SR, TC, TN, and soil microbial activity did not differ significantly.

Assessment of Karmi Landslide Zone, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract Slope instability is a big challenge for the population in mountainous regions. It poses a threat to life, economy, and infrastructure. For the safety of people, various prevention and precautions are taken and hence many scientific studies are going on. In the present study, the stability of the Karmi landslides zone, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India is assessed. Karmi village lies quite close to the northern border of India and the excavated roads are the only means of commute. The area lies in a tectonically active lesser Himalayan zone with high relief. Slope geometry was extracted using a total station, and seven different slope geometries were plotted. Soil and rock mass samples were taken and evaluated from various field and laboratory investigations. The direct shear test was performed to assess the friction angle and cohesion of the soil and rock mass. Numerical simulations viz., finite element analysis and probabilistic analysis have been applied on all seven slope sections and found that the mean and median safety factor of all the modeled slopes was 0.78 and 0.81, respectively. The study ascertains that the whole area to be quite vulnerable to failure, especially during rains, since the pore pressure build-up diminishes the shear strength of the slope forming material. Possible mitigation measures have been suggested based on the examined instability of the hill slopes.

Runout modeling and calibration of friction parameters of Kurichermala debris flow, India

Debris flows account for a substantial economy and property loss in Western Ghats of Kerala, India, especially during monsoon seasons. Wayanad district is an active erosion zone in the plateau margins of Western Ghats, and there is a remarkable rise in the number of debris flows since 2018, due to very high-intensity rainfalls in this region. This study comprises geotechnical investigation, runout modeling, and calibration of friction parameters of Kurichermala debris flow, one of the devastating debris flow events that happened in Wayanad, during the 2018 monsoon. The detailed investigation and back analysis of such events are substantial in calibrating the flow parameters for the region. These parameters can be used for predicting the flow paths of possible debris flows and quantitative risk assessment in the future. The geotechnical investigation provided vital information regarding the soil type and shear strength parameters of the debris flow and has helped in understanding the flow behavior. A dynamic numerical model, rapid mass movements (RAMMS), was used for the back analysis of the debris flow, using the shape information of the flow. For precise calibration using statistical comparison, an image processing tool has been developed, to compare the structural similarity of simulated results with the original shape of debris flow. The dry-Coulomb friction coefficient (μ) was calibrated as 0.01 and turbulent friction coefficient (ξ) as 100 m/s2 for the event, using Voellmy-Salm rheology. The shape predicted by the model had a similarity index of 0.626 with the actual shape of debris flow. The results were found to be in accordance with the field and geotechnical observations. Hence, the results can be used to predict the shape of possible debris flows in the study area. The study is the first of its kind for the region and has significant influence in risk assessment for this highly susceptible landslide zone.

The distribution of soil morphological characteristics for landslide-impacted Sumbing Volcano, Central Java - Indonesia

Landslides are the second biggest natural disasters in Indonesia, occurring mostly in volcanic area with thick and clay rich soils. Examining the changes of land surface and soil morphology brought about by a particular landslide is usually the first step required for vegetative rehabilitation. Most examinations to date, however, have been based on general characters rather than on soil morphology, including physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, which are usually locally specific. This study investigates the morphological characteristics of soil in a landslide-prone slope region of Sumbing Volcano, in Central Java Province of Indonesia. The field investigations are conducted at three landslides sites. It starts with interpreting small format areal-photographs which have been geo-corrected, followed by the delineation of landslide zones (i.e. crowns, main scarps, heads, bodies and toes) based on morphological analysis of the landslide sites. Finally, identification of morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the soil in each of the landslide zones are conducted in the field, along with laboratory tests. The results demonstrate that soil morphology is unique for each of the landslide zones. The characters of the undisturbed soil, as indicated by well-defined genetic horizons, are found in the crown zones. Outcrop of high clay content soil material layers are seen in the main scarp zones. Meanwhile pedoturbation processes are evident in the zone of bodies and toes, suggesting that the soil is prone for erosion. If natural erosions in these zones are not controlled and/or unmitigated, the situation will trigger landslide reactivations. We suggest that in studying landslide, one also considers the characters of soil morphology, as this additional information provides a more complete understanding of both land surface morphology and soil morphology to inform landslide vegetative rehabilitation.

Slope mass rating-based analysis to assess rockfall hazard on Yogyakarta Southern Mountain, Indonesia

In the Parangtritis Beach tourism area located in the Southern Mountain of Yogyakarta, karst hills were excavated to build the main accessing road and produce some of long and very steep slopes along the sides of the road. But still, there was none of the slope reinforcement installed along the road. Meanwhile, at several nearby locations within Southern Mountain, rockfall incidents have occurred many times even caused casualties. The potential of rockfall hazard also could be found in the main road of Parangtritis Beach as the study area. The purpose of this study is to determine the rockfall hazard assessment along the main road using Slope Mass Rating (SMR) analysis with the additional parameter of the slope height and the rock block size. The necessary data obtained by direct measurement and laboratory test. Geomechanics analysis, stereographic projection analysis, and hazard parameters weighting were carried out to produce the Rockfall Hazard Zonation Map of the study area. Based on 17 measurement stations, there are 4 (four) rockfall hazard classes in the study area, i.e., very low, low, moderate, and high. The class of very low, which also included road segments without slope, has the largest percentages of 83.83%, followed by the classes of moderate, low, and high with the percentage of 7.16%, 4.28%, and 4,19%, respectively. SMR was assumed as the most significant parameter that influences the rockfall hazard zonation. Historical rockfall points were overlaid over the Rockfall Hazard Zonation Map to validate the predicted hazard zones. Since 91.23% of the rockfall occurred in the moderate and high hazard classes, the zonation map considered reliable to predict future rockfall. This study also identified several landslide potential zones and provides the recommendation of slope reinforcement to be installed in the study area.

Time-varying reliability analysis of Majiagou landslide based on weakening of hydro-fluctuation belt under wetting-drying cycles

The impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir has a significant impact on the storage area, where the frequent occurrence of reservoir landslides with great harm has attracted much attention. Taking the Majiagou landslide as a case, this study focuses on the hydro-fluctuation belt affected by the reservoir operation. Under the scheduling of reservoir water level, the landslide displacement associated with the hydro-fluctuation belt presents a step-like deformation and the movement behaves as a retrogressive type. The wetting-drying cycles test has been performed to simulate the effects of reservoir water level on the hydro-fluctuation belt. Then, the weakening of soil strength parameters is well characterized by an exponential function model. Considering the continuous weakening of the hydro-fluctuation belt, the time-varying reliability, consistent with the actual landslide zoning, is analyzed under the reservoir operation for 10 years. The results indicate that the migration of seepage field in the landslide is closely related to the scheduling of reservoir water level and lags behind the scheduling. Similarly, the factor of safety varies with the reservoir water level, and the minimum value is obtained when the water drops to the lowest level. With the repeated interaction of reservoir water level on the hydro-fluctuation belt, the most dangerous failure probability of the landslide gradually increases. As a result, the stability of the Majiagou landslide declines from the initial basic stable to the less stable state.

Assessing the impact on groundwater chemistry of an environmental restoration performed using industrial solid waste from TiO2 production

A hydrogeochemical study was performed to assess the impact on groundwater chemistry of industrial solid waste (ISW) used for environmental restoration of a site degraded by past quarry activities in southern Tuscany (Italy). Water samples were collected from springs, piezometers and drains around and within this site where solid waste generated by industrial processes for the production of titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been disposed. Water samples were analysed for the physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential), major ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, SO4), trace elements (Fe, Mn, Ti, B) and isotopes (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, 3H). The study area is characterised by a complex hydrogeological system consisting of groundwater belonging to four hydrochemical facies. The leachate of the stored ISW had high salinity and concentrations of major ions (mainly SO4, Cl, Na, Mg) and trace elements (Fe, Mn). The chemical features of leachate in the stored ISW are similar to those of water found in the ISW before disposal, primarily due by the reactions between the raw material (ilmenite slags) and reagents (e.g. sulphuric acid, seawater and limestone) during production of TiO2. The hydrochemical and hydrogeological findings suggested that: i) no change of chemistry due to leakage of the ISW leachate occurred in groundwater around the ISW disposal site; ii) dilution of the ISW leachate by meteoric waters was found in the landslide zone of the ISW disposal site; iii) mixing between the ISW leachate and groundwater [Na–HCO3(Cl) waters] probably took place under the ISW disposal site in the period immediately following a landslide event.

Nutrient Status of Tree Seedlings in a Site Recovering from a Landslide

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of soil recovery after a landslide on the nutritional status of a young generation of Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) trees. The study was carried out on the site of a landslide that took place in 2010 in the Gorlice Forest District (Southern Poland). Basic soil properties, macro, and microelements content and enzymatic activity were determined in the soil samples that were collected from across the landslide area, from locations distributed by a grid 10 × 10 m (18 points). Plant material samples, collected to indicate nutritional status, were also taken from each point. Results demonstrate that the nutritional status of emerging regeneration depends on soil acidification and soil organic matter content. The pH of the soils on the landslide determines the intensity of nutrient uptake by the young seedlings. The nutrition of young trees varied across the landslide zone, differing in terms of the soil’s organic matter content and its chemical properties. In comparison to the depletion zone, the accumulation zone proved to be substantially richer in soil organic matter, resulting in higher soil biochemical activity. The study demonstrates that Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is improving nutrient cycling in areas disturbed by landslide.