Slope failures are going to happen. Erosion, slumps, slides and the like are all natural processes than can't be prevented forever. That said there are certainly things you might want to avoid doing if you happen to own steeply sloping land and you don't want to increase the risk of these events. First off don't be ignorant about the ground under your feet. Know if there is shallow bedrock or if it is mostly sand or clay. Second, don't cut out all the small vegetation and keep just a couple of large trees on the slope. Mixed stands of vegetation will hold a slope remarkbly well at no cost to the owner, however the key is having "mixed stands" vegetation. Isolated large trees can actually become a hazard because of their exposure to the wind. A large tree swaying in the wind can be analogous to some jamming a pry bar in behind a rock and working it back and forth. Stands of trees are not likely to behave this way but individuals can. At the first signs of slope failure the tree should be removed and new woody-stemmed vegetation planted in the vicinity. Lastly, irrigation systems... If you believe you absolutely have to have one for some reason, use only the water that you need. Extra water pumped directly into the soil means extra weight, extra pressure, and extra mobility.
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