Question

How does deforestation affect the increasing concentration of CO₂ , landslides and floods ?

Answer 1

Deforestation :

It refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world or the clearing of forests for the purpose of agriculture and human activities.

Effects of deforestation:

1. Increased concentration of CO₂ :

1. Forests play a huge role in the carbon cycle on our planet.
2. As trees are cut down, the carbon dioxide does not get absorbed from the atmosphere for photosynthesis, thus, increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
3. If the forest's wood is burned or left to rot after deforestation, leads to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
4. The emission of carbon dioxide by the burning of fuels increases the availability of carbon dioxide but due to deforestation, it is not getting absorbed which adds up to the level of carbon dioxide.
5. Because of this deforestation or increased level of carbon dioxide, climatic changes are seen.

2. Causes Landslides :

1. When trees are cut down due to deforestation on a larger scale, it affects the delicate root system, the water does not get absorbed and leads to saturation, loosening the soil particle, resulting in landslides.
2. As the root is no longer available to hold the soil together, thus, heavy rainfall is sufficient to cause land sliding.
3. Heavy logging of natural drainage by leaf and wood debris after deforestation also causes landslides.

3. Causes flood :

1. Due to deforestation, the water holding capacity of soil is lost.
2. So whenever there is heavy rainfall, the water does not seep down and is not absorbed by the trees.
3. Hence, it leads to flooding.