Assessement on the soil erosion risk potential based on Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) / Mohd Shahril Ramli

Our country, Malaysia is undergoing a very tremendous land development action especially in the development of infrastructures. This development is inevitable, as it is a prime activity in the progress of the nation towards vision 2020. Vast areas of virgin rain-forest, especially in Peninsular Malaysia are being cleared rapidly to cope with the immense for land in all sector of development especially in the construction of highways, opening up of new industrial and residential areas as well as for the agricultural activities. Although land development schemes for both infrastructure and agricultural purposes form an integral parts of the whole spectrum of sosio-economic advancement in this country, its success is indeed be limited, if insufficient attention is paid to the adverse effects of land development, particularly on soil erosion issues. If appropriate soil conservation measures are not taken simultaneously with development, it will leads to an increase in soil erosion and therefore, siltation of streams and rivers will occurs. This will be the beginning of others related problem such as flooding and landslide.