Abstract. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable management aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population, and livelihoods. We conducted a systematic review of 121 case studies from the Andes to answer the following questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? and (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon (SOC) of topsoil, and soil loss rates at the plot scale. In areas with protective vegetation and/or soil and water conservation measures, the SOC of topsoil is –on average– 1.3 to 2.8 times higher than in areas under traditional agriculture. Soil loss rates in areas with natural infrastructure were reported to be 38 % to 54 % lower than rates measured in untreated croplands. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

中文翻译：

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自然基础设施对安第斯山脉水侵蚀减缓的影响

摘要。水土流失通过影响水质和可用性、土壤养分流失、洪水风险、河流和溪流的沉积以及对民用基础设施的破坏，正在影响自然和人为环境。可持续管理旨在避免、减少和扭转土壤侵蚀，并可以为环境、人口和生计带来多重效益。我们对来自安第斯山脉的 121 个案例研究进行了系统回顾，以回答以下问题：(1) 哪些侵蚀指标可以让我们评估自然基础设施的有效性？(2) 与自然基础设施合作对现场和场外侵蚀减缓的总体影响是什么？(3) 需要哪些地点和类型的研究来填补知识和研究方面的关键空白？考虑了三大类自然基础设施：保护性植被、水土保持措施和调节水流量和运输的适应措施。在土壤侵蚀研究中常用的物理、化学和生物指标套件中，有两个指标特别相关：表土的土壤有机碳 (SOC) 和样地尺度的土壤流失率。在有保护性植被和/或水土保持措施的地区，表土的 SOC 平均为 1.3 到 2。比传统农业地区高8倍。据报道，拥有自然基础设施地区的土壤流失率比未经处理的农田测量的土壤流失率低 38% 至 54%。需要进一步研究以评估报告的有效性在与厄尔尼诺-南方涛动等极端事件相关的情况下是否成立。