Laterite: this is the red land characteristic of certain areas of the Highlands. It is rich in iron hydroxide and alumina. Some say that it covers 70% of our island.
It is especially today the revealing symptom of a strong erosion due to the torrential and devastating rains. Huge crevasses are dug every year and large amounts of land are dumped to the bottom of lakes or rivers, gradually asphyxiating vegetation and wildlife. Solutions exist to permanently control this erosion, including the planting of Vetiver. But, in my humble opinion, everything must be done to educate the local population to give up the practice of TAVY, the culture on brulis and that the children take habits of reforestation recurring.
