Riparian strips consist of growth left in or near water courses particularly in clearfelling logging operations. The theory is that the growth will lessen the erosion prospects of the denuded land . Experience has shown that the strips were often far too small to achieve the stated purpose. Logging operations tended to maximise the production aspects and it wasn't until weather conditions tested the situation that the flawed thinking was revealed. As many of the logging operations took place in remote areas the folly of providing ridiculously small riparian strips has seldom been revealed. Factors such as soil types and structures below ground, climatic conditions, type of growth above ground, etc all have a major bearing as to the effectiveness of the concept. Most production areas were never offered the required level of study with the result that the riparian strips were often discredited .
