An example of severe soil erosion.

It is obvious that this soil erosion is not a naturally occurring part of the landscape. The rate of soil loss here is far, far greater than the slow erosion loss that is a consequence of the geological evolution of the continent. This erosion is accelerated by human activity. It is the direct result of landcover change. Obviously, not all landcover change is damaging or destructive. To survive as a species, humans must alter landcover. The question is what is the balance?