LANDSLIDES INDUCED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY

LANDSLIDES INDUCED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY

• Landslides are abrupt volcanic phenomena that can have catastrophic consequences for human settlements, biodiversity, and physical environments.
• Although landslides are commonly perceived as fully natural phenomena, human actions may exert a substantial impact on their incidence.

Control and mitigation

How Human Activities Induce Landslides

1. Deforestation

• Deforestation, the deliberate removal of trees and plants, is a major factor directly contributing to landslides.
• Trees enhance soil stability by promoting anchorage through their root systems.
• Deforestation can lead to soil compaction and increased vulnerability to erosion and landslides, particularly in periods of intense precipitation.

2. Construction and Urban Development

• Erecting roads, dwellings, and other construction modifies the natural terrain.
• Construction frequently entails the removal of vegetation, disruption of soil, and alteration of drainage patterns, all of which can heighten the susceptibility to landslides.
• Inadequately constructed structures or insufficient drainage systems might worsen these hazards.

3. Mining Activities

• Excavating activities have the potential to disrupt slopes and result in landslides.

• The excavation of extensive portions of soil can undermine adjacent regions and generate precarious circumstances.
• Furthermore, the use of large machinery can compress soil and alter the terrain, therefore heightening the probability of landslides.

4. Agricultural Practices

• Agriculture may also be a contributing factor to landslides.
• Plowing fields, for example, can increase soil compaction and render them more vulnerable to erosion.
• Agricultural cultivation on steep slopes, referred to as slope farming, can exacerbate land instability, particularly in the absence of adequate soil protection methods.

5. Excessive water usage

• Anthropogenic actions that modify the natural hydrological flow can initiate landslides.
• Overwatering, for instance, can render soil saturated, resulting in increased weight and susceptibility to slippage.
• Furthermore, the construction of dams and reservoirs has the ability to alter groundwater levels and pressure, therefore increasing the risk of landslides in adjacent regions.

Strategies for Mitigating Landslides Caused by Human Activities

1. Sustainable Land Management

• The use of sustainable agriculture and forestry techniques can effectively mitigate the hazards of landslides.
• Cultivating cover crops, adopting terrace farming, and engaging in agroforestry can enhance soil stability and sustain plant cover.

2. Responsible urban planning

• It is imperative for cities to enforce stringent limitations on building in regions susceptible to landslides.
• The implementation of infrastructure, including effective drainage systems and retaining walls, may greatly mitigate potential hazards.

3. Awareness and Education

• The dissemination of knowledge to communities on the hazards associated with landslides and the consequences of human actions might result in the adoption of more conscientious behaviours and cognitive processes.
• Awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and community seminars have the potential to enable citizens to ensure the preservation of their environment.

4. Observation and Investigation

Sustained investigation and surveillance of regions susceptible to landslides enhance our comprehension of this phenomenon.

5. Highly sophisticated technology, such as geographic information systems (GIS), may help monitor and analyze changes in land use and environmental conditions.

IMAGE SOURCE (THUMBNAIL)