Large trees, especially hardwoods, provide a high surface area canopy which prevents "rain drop" erosion by (1) cushioning rain falling on soils (decreasing the potential energy), and (2) providing a continuous cover of organic matter (leaf debris) that further protects soils from "rain drop" erosion and "shear" erosion by providing binding material for soil particles.
(Large trees; provide; a high surface area canopy which prevents "rain drop" erosion by (1) cushioning rain falling on soils (decreasing the potential energy)) (a high surface area canopy; prevents; rain drop" erosion) (leaf debris; protects; soils; from "rain drop" erosion and "shear" erosion) (cushioning rain; falling; on soils)
Large trees a high surface area canopy leaf debris cushioning rain
provide prevents protects falling
a high surface area canopy which prevents "rain drop" erosion by (1) cushioning rain falling on soils (decreasing the potential energy)
rain drop" erosion
soils from "rain drop" erosion and "shear" erosion
on soils