Role of landscape vegetation in treating slope failure

• Main Authors: Shazalee, Nur Faradilla Roza, Mohd. Hussain, Mohd. Ramzi, Tukiman, Izawati, Mohamad Nadzri, Amira Arisya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: [e-mail] 2023
• Subjects: BPG113 Environmental ethics/responsibility. Sustainable living.; SB Plant culture; SD Forestry; TA170 Environmental engineering. Sustainable engineering; TA715 Earthwork. Foundations; TD169 Environmental protection; TE177 Roadside development. Landscaping
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/106932/7/106932_Role%20of%20landscape%20vegetation%20in%20treating%20slope%20failure.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/106932/; http://www.ijlrhss.com/paper/volume-6-issue-7/3-HSS-2080.pdf; http://www.ijlrhss.com/paper/volume-6-issue-7/3-HSS-2080.pdf
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Slope failure is becoming one of the world's environmental issues, including in Malaysia, that may affect the community and change the earth's surface. The decreased amount or the removal of forest vegetation species, especially on hillside areas because of hillside clearing, cutting, and fill processes, affect the slope stability. Many options exist to treat slope failure, including biological or landscape vegetation measures, which may offer the best option to cater to this problem for long-term benefit. Thus, this research aims to investigate the role of landscape vegetation in treating slope failure. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey, nonparticipant observation, and semi-structured interviews are performed to gain insights. The findings suggest vegetation plays a vital role in treating the slope, supported by the findings of the suitable characteristics of vegetation being able to protect against slope failure. As potential slope vegetation, the vegetation can protect the slope by absorbing moisture, strengthening the soil structure, and preventing surface water runoff through its mechanical and hydrological characteristics. Large canopy, deep root system, and fast-growing and native vegetation characteristics are needed for ecological treatment to sustain the long-term solution.