Current trends of development of forest areas to protect soil and water at global and regional level

Abstract

Forest assemblage secures and protects the soil. The role of protection of forests is multiple, but the protection function of soil erosion and current geomorphologic processes is the most important one. The forest area having the primary function to protect the soil and water, avalanche control, desertification and coastal protection is now over 328 million ha, which represents approx. 8% of world forests. Compared to 1990, this protective function of soil and water has increased by over 100 million hectares of plantations and employment due to recent additional surfaces.