Mountain erosion and mitigation: global state of art

Mountain erosion mapping is one of the important aspects for monitoring environmental degradation. Global climate change coupled with human activities is eroding the mountain regions of the world at an alarming rate. The various types of erosion can be classified as water erosion, aeolian erosion, glaciered erosion, gravity erosion and man-made erosion. Tectonic activity also plays a major role towards mountain erosion. Soil erosion along with debris flow and rock falling not only causes loss of human life and property, but also affects the climatic condition of the mountain regions. Mountain erosion mitigation and protection methods include wire mesh fencing with inclusion of brush layers and brush mats on fascines, constructing check dams and slope benches and application of bioengineering works such as plantation and vegetation growth. This study consists of the global scenario with some of the state-of-the-art methods for mitigation and mappings of mountain erosion. The erosion in mountainous regions can be controlled with the help of suitable vegetation and plant growth, with installation of special bioengineered materials. However, public awareness is also considered as an important factor. Moreover, it is found that mapping the rate of erosion greatly helps to make proper action plan against the erosion process.

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