Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources

Soils are the fundamental resource enabling land to provide a wide array of benefits. Both humans and wildlife rely on soils for the production of life-sustaining nourishment and shelter. Soil is important to society because it supports plants that supply food, fibers, drugs, and other essentials and because it filters water and recycles wastes.The factors that affect water quality and supply in forest ecosystems include climate and hydrology, catchment geology, natural disturbances, land management, and actual land-use activities.