A tree — any tree — is better than no tree at all for tackling erosion. Some are better than others, because they are fast-growing, hardy and with good root structure.
It is a matter of using whichever trees are most useful for the task, which is why pines, willows and poplars are used rather than native trees. Long-term strategy should see utilitarian species replaced with the appropriate mixture of indigenous vegetation.
Unfortunately, the objective of erosion control became contaminated with the desire to make money, and to create employment. At the same time, various sectors have opposed erosion control and forestry because they have seen them as a threat to their own interests.
Repairing the damage to the land while negotiating these many complications and opposing interests is going to take time and patience — especially so to avoid social harm to the communities involved.
It does not help at all that we have a number of people who have not and will not heed the science.
