Question

What are the causes and consequences of deforestation?

Answer 1

Deforestation:

1. Deforestation is the removal or clearing of forest from an area for industrial, agricultural or other purposes.
2. It involves the permanent end of forest.

Causes of deforestation:

1. The causes of deforestation include both man-made and natural.
2. Man-made causes:
   • Clearing forests for the expansion of urban areas and for fulfilling their increasing requirements.
   • Clearing of forest for farming and cattle grazing.
   • Cutting of trees for fuel and firewood.
3. Natural causes:
   • Forest fires: Hundreds of trees are lost in a year due to forest fires.
   • Severe droughts: Drought in the forest can increase the chances of forest fire.
   • Volcanic eruption: The ashes emitted during eruption coat tree leaves which in turn stop photosynthesis and destroy the plant.
   • Typhoon or heavy storm: These violent storms can destroy much of the rainforest.

Consequences of deforestation:

1. Climate change and global warming:
   • Deforestation can increase the temperature of Earth.
   • Plant absorbs CO2 from atmosphere for photosynthesis.
   • If plants are destroyed, the CO2 level in atmosphere will increase.
   • This CO2 will trap more solar radiation which leads to global warming.
   • Global warming refers to an average increase in temperature of Earth.
2. Desertification:
   • Desertification is the formation of desert and it is a main consequence of deforestation.
   • In absence of trees, the soil erodes more rapidly.
   • This soil erosion exposes the underlying rocky layer and this leads to loss of humus.
   • The land becomes less fertile due to the loss of humus.
   • Eventually, this sterile land becomes desert and this process is called desertification.
3. Loss of biodiversity:
   • Deforestation leads to loss of biodiversity.
   • Due to deforestation, the natural habitats of many animals will get completely destroyed.
4. Soil erosion:
   • Deforestation increases the soil erosion.
   • Roots of plants can hold soil together.
   • In the absence of plants, the top layer of soil is removed by the action of wind and water flow.
5. Floods and droughts:
   • Trees can absorb and store a great amount of water quickly during heavy rains.
   • In deforestation, the regulation of this water flow gets disturbed and it will lead to alternating floods and droughts.