Introduction Of The Soil Erosion Act (1938)

Even while enduring with existing problems of soil erosion, the government continues to pass laws as organizations are made for the sake of environmental purposes, to which many are committed to countering soil erosion. This is especially the case among countries such as Australia that consider soil erosion as a true environmental problem.

With the introduction of the Soil Conservation Act of 1938 and the subsequent establishment of the Soil Conservation Service, New South Wales was the first Australian State to establish an organization to be concerned solely with soil conservation. Victoria followed next, in 1940, when the Soil Erosion Act was passed to authorize the establishment of the Soil Conservation Board (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Our service instructor, Marie Reil, taught us a few ways to help control soil erosion. The first method we learned was to cover the soil with a thin, grid-like covering called a jute. We also placed a sack of hay, called a waddle further up on the hill to prevent run off materials from further eroding the soil. Since many human activities drastically speed up this process, informing the public by taking initiatives as soon as possible is the best way to decrease the levels of environmental soil

The easiest way would be to plant vegetation such as grass or flowers. The roots of the plants help hold the soil firm from eroding factors such as water and wind. Another way we learned from our volunteer work at Mission Peak was to properly put a secured jute over the patch of land that is to be protected. “Jute is the glossy fiber of either of two Asian plants (Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis) of the linden family that is placed over the soil to protect it” (Merriam-Webster). For further protection, a person could place a waddle up-slope to the area. The waddle acts as a shield from running water and wind as indicated before. Another method commonly used in preventing soil erosion is crop rotation, where the crops are planted in specific areas of a field during the year. This helps specific regions of the soil regain their fertility. Even with the slightest help, you can prevent soil erosion. This would ultimately be very useful to protect our mother earth. Knowing how effective soil erosion is, initiatives must be taken increasingly by the public. Spreading awareness is crucial to prevent soil erosion as much as possible. A few good ways to help prevent soil erosion would be to stop trampling on mother Earth and to respect nature’s