Soil ConservationSoil is very useful to us. We grow plants and trees there. It holds trees in place and provides nutrients and water for plants to grow. Topsoil is very healthy for plant growth and hence farmers take good care of it for better yield. However, strong wind or heavy rain can easily remove fertile topsoil. The removal of soil by water or wind is called soil erosion. A forest is a great collector and reservoir of water. A tree's root structure holds the soil together and stops soil erosion. Soil erosion brings less fertile soil to the earth's surface. If this process is not stopped in time, the earth can soon turn into a barren land or desert. Crops will no longer grow in such infertile soil and there will soon be a food shortage. Now, who wants to be hungry in bed? We can prevent soil erosion by preserving forests and planting more trees. How can we conserve soil? When a plot of land is not used for agriculture, it is a good idea to grow grass, plants, flowers and trees on it. This would hold the topsoil firmly in place and prevent soil erosion. Another good method is terrace cultivation. Agricultural lands on hill slopes are cut into steps or terraces, so that when water flows down the slope, the topsoil is not washed away and is absorbed in the same area.Deforestation The need to construct buildings, dams, trade centers, ore extraction, oil and natural gas has led to a reduction in forests. Deforestation refers to the felling of trees from a forest area for commercial purposes. It is a process that involves felling trees and clearing a large patch of forest for smaller, biodiverse ecosystems, such as plantations,...... middle of paper ......ityPlanting trees in semi-arid areas attracts rainfall and prevents these areas from becoming deserts. Afforestation prevents soil erosion and preserves fertile topsoil for agricultural use. Employment through Afforestation Governments around the world have designed several tree planting programs that encourage people to sow seeds and plant saplings. Thus, it provides employment opportunities to people. Even ecotourism helps people earn a living.Activity 2: Give your opinion!On an A4 sheet of paper, write your opinion on one of the topics below.• Write a letter about plants – The forest as a resource that educates people about its importance. and how they can contribute.• Write a letter to the local newspaper to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, reusing and reducing the use of paper products to prevent deforestation and global warming..