China's rural areas are at risk of becoming redundant if the current rate of soil erosion continues, according to the country's most comprehensive study on the subject in 60 years.
The findings state that around 100 million people in the south west of the country risk losing their land within the next 35 years if the soil continues to be swept away at the current rate.
Crop yield in the abundant north east will be impacted by this and see a fall of 40 per cent within the next 50 years, it was also claimed.
Those conducting the research stated that farming and forestry are largely responsible and that erosion is also impacting negatively upon urban areas.
Chen Lei, director of the Ministry of Water Resources, said: "If we don't conduct effective measures, erosion will cause major damage to social and economic development," reported the Guardian.
In other developments related to soil this week, a report from Cornell University concluded that environmental models in Australia could be incorrect as some soil in the region emits less carbon than estimated.
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