Soil erosion and water loss pose two serious challenges to the global ecological environment today. Every 5 seconds, an area of soil equivalent to a football field is eroded on Earth, whereas it takes up to 1000 years to form just 2-3 cm of soil on the Earth's surface. These issues are the result of various natural factors, but human activities and related land use change are the primary drivers of accelerated soil erosion and water loss. This acceleration has far-reaching consequences, including farmland degradation, water sources pollution, and ecosystem imbalance, as well as threats to the sustainability of agriculture, efficient water resource utilization, and global climate stability.

In the 21st century, soil and water are essential resources for meeting human needs, such as food, feed, fiber, clean water, and clean air. They are fundamental components of ecosystems and vital for the proper functioning of Earth's systems, supporting the delivery of primary ecosystem services. However, they have become increasingly degraded on a global scale due to climate change and human activities. It is an urgent priority to understand the processes of soil erosion and water loss and their environmental effects. In response to these challenges, studying the underlying mechanisms, long-term impacts, and management approaches for addressing soil and water resource loss has become a crucial issue to be tackled.

This Research Topic aims to facilitate knowledge exchange on the fundamental causes and mechanisms of soil erosion and water loss and its specific and continuous impacts on farmland, water resources, ecosystems, and climate (particularly the carbon cycle). The research areas covered may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Processes and occurrence mechanisms of soil erosion and water loss
• Drivers behind soil erosion and water loss
• Effective management and protection strategies for soil and water resources
• Land degradation, fertility loss, and off-site effects resulting from soil and water loss
• Climate impacts through changes in soil carbon cycling induced by erosion
• How climate change exacerbates soil erosion and water loss and corresponding strategies

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Frontiers in Environmental Science

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