This is true, like the person who answered first ,entitled, the lack of roots make it easier for soil to slide and move freely. The roots hold the soil in place even when it's raining and/or very windy. When a tree is dug up the soil becomes loose and when on a hill that is very bad, when it rains the soil will then create a mud slide which can be dangerous if any village is at the bottom. So this statement is true.