Final answer:
To reduce riverbank erosion, planting trees and bushes is effective as their roots stabilize the soil and their foliage minimizes the impact of rain, both of which prevent soil from being dislodged and eroded.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reduce erosion along riverbanks, humans can plant trees and bushes on the riverbank. Vegetation acts as a barrier against erosion by minimizing the impact of rainwater, which can cause soil particles to dislodge and wash away. Additionally, the root systems of trees and bushes help to bind the soil together, providing stability to the riverbank and reducing the likelihood of erosion. It's crucial to maintain a vegetative cover, as this also prevents further habitat destruction, maintains biodiversity, and supports hydrologic regulation which can mitigate flooding and erosion.
Contrary to practices that can help, removing all vegetation from a riverbank can severely increase erosion rates. Moreover, redirecting more water into the river to increase its volume may also contribute to erosion by increasing the water's force and its ability to carry away soil particles.
Intact forests and natural vegetation along riverbanks play a vital role in buffering against natural disasters, like tsunamis, and human interventions like damming and deforestation have shown to increase sediment discharge and habitat loss that can exacerbate erosion problems.