Erosion Potential of Small Island: Case of Pulau Payar, Kedah (Malaysia)

Soil erosion refers to the soil removing process, from the terrain surfaces. It is the results of the combined effects of energy from rainfall and runoff, topography, soil properties and land uses. The process is greatly enhanced by human activities such as extensive agriculture, urbanization construction, and inappropriate farm and crop management practices. Soil loss from continent entering marine waters could affect marine fisheries. Erosion or soil loss on Pulau Payar was estimated using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) based on rainfall and site investigation of the soil and slope characteristics. Soil loss from a fully covered forest dominated by natural erosion process which was estimated about 3.52 ton/ha/year, which is considered as non-significant erosion to low erosion. While, for the worst case scenario of a fully disturbed area, land clearing and bare soils would give an estimates of 9,813 ton/ha/year. Medium disturbance, for example, will create a medium erosion of 801 ton/ha/year. Based on these scenario of land uses activities, Pulau Payar should be kept at a minimal disturbance in order to minimize the impact of siltation on the surrounding marine environment.