• Sheep numbers grew rapidly in peripheral mountainous areas
• West of Ireland = Connemara uplands + Mweelrea Mountains
• Sheep numbers exceeded carrying capacity of land • Overgrazing removed grass and heather binding the soil • Soil became loose and unstable = moved downslope • Soil was compacted = faster runoff of surface water • 30% of upland areas suffered serious soil erosion
• Led to localised landslides = damaged property, blocked roads, polluted rivers and lakes
Deforestation in the Amazon Basin
Causes • Infrastructural development – ‘Advance Brazil’
• Agriculture – cattle population grew from 25 million to 90 million
• Logging – over 30 million m3 of logs taken each year • Mining – minerals such as copper, nickel, gold
Impact • Protective cover preventing soil erosion removed • Trees slow runoff, water soaks into ground • Trees root systems stabilise slopes – bind soil particles
• Trees are protective shield against force of rainfall = reduces its ability to erode
• Decomposed leaves = rich layer of organic matter – increases water infiltration and the strength of soil
