The following technology provides information on the use of aloe vera as a cross-slope barrier structure. This structure is particularly effective barrier to retain soil erosion by decreasing surface runoff and increasing soil infiltration. Aloe vera is a durable herbaceous plant, which is planted in the form of living barriers to recover degraded slopes on the Cape Verde Islands. The plants are placed to form an efficient barrier for retention of eroded sediments and superficial runoff. The living hedges of aloe vera stabilize the soil and improve groundwater drainage. On steeper slopes the living barriers are often combined with stone walls, making this combined technology one of the most efficient measures for soil erosion control on the Cape Verde Islands.