•   Soil erosion is the denudation of the upper layer of soil. It is a form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice, snow, air, plants, and animals.

•   Causes of Soil Erosion:

o  Over-grazing, Deforestation, Action of wind, water, glacier, etc.

o  Topography i.e., steep slopes & heavy rainfall.

o  Faulty methods of agriculture like over-irrigation, shifting agriculture, etc.

o  Anthropogenic factors like mining, industrial activities, etc.

•   Terrance cultivation is done to protect from soil erosion.

•   Tropical climate is not a direct cause of soil erosion.

•   It is a method of growing crops on sides of hills or mountains by planting on graduated terraces built into the slope.

•   Though labour-intensive, the method has been employed effectively to maximize arable land area in variable terrains and to reduce soil erosion and water loss.

•   In areas where soils are able to take in water readily and rainfall is relatively low, level terraces may be used.

•   The terrace farming method is common in hilly areas and states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Meghalaya, and Plains of Uttar Pradesh.

•   In Northside (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh), this farming is easily seen on roadside valleys.

•   Some areas that are not cultivate by this terrace farming are Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

•   It is the purposeful clearing of forested land.

•   It can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use.

•   Expansion of agriculture caused nearly 80% of global deforestation.

•   Construction of infrastructures such as roads or dams, together with mining activities and urbanization, makes up the remaining causes of deforestation.

•   The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines deforestation as the conversion of forest to other land uses (regardless of whether it is human induced).

•   The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for Indigenous people.

•   Tropical climate is the first of the five major climate groups in the Köppen climate classification identified with the letter A.

•   Tropical climates are defined by a monthly average temperature of 18 °C or higher in the coolest month, and feature hot temperatures all year-round.

•   There are three basic types of tropical climates within the tropical climate group: tropical rainforest climate (Af), tropical monsoon climate (Am) and tropical wet and dry climate or tropical savannah (Aw for dry winters, and As for dry summers).

•   Tropical climates are typically characterized by two overarching seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

•   Tropical rainforest vegetation including: Bengal bamboo, bougainvillea, curare, coconut tree, durian and banana.

•   Tropical monsoon vegetation including: teak, deodar, rosewood, sandalwood and bamboo.

•   Tropical wet and dry or savanna vegetation including: acacia senegal, elephant grass, jarrah tree, gum tree eucalyptus and whistling thorn.