Question

What are the consequences of deforestation?

Answer 1

Part 1: Definition
Deforestation is the large scaling cutting of trees leading to complete loss of forest areas.

Part 2: Consequences of deforestation
Some of the consequences of deforestation are as follows:

• Increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases: Trees trap carbon dioxide in their biomass. Lack of trees increases the carbon dioxide concentration, finally leading to global warming.
• Habitat destruction: Trees form their own ecosystems. Insects, birds and other smaller plants have trees as their habitats, destruction of which will cause a domino effect.
• Imbalance in the biogeochemical cycles: Especially the hydrological cycle on which other biogeochemical cycles depend on is distrubed as less trees lead to less rainfall.
• Soil quality: The compaction and aggregation of soil particles reduces, the microflora of the soil also reduces causing an overall decrease in soil quality. The incidence of removal of top soil increases as roots of trees are absent to hold the soil particles together.
• Desertification: Constant soil erosion leads to the formation of deserts.