Deforestation can have destructive effects on soils. Trees and shrubs shield the ground from the force of raindrops and provide shade that reduces surface soil temperature, which in turn reduces evaporation. Logging and small-scale removal of trees exposes soil to rain splash which loosens and dislodges soil particles, eroding soil and creating a more impermeable bare surface, which increases runoff.
It was found that the majority of soil fertility indices were affected negatively by deforestation and more than half of the organic matter was lost to deforestation, which, in turn, could lead to deterioration in soil quality or land productivity capacity.