Deforestation

• The loss or continual degradation of forest habitat due to natural or human-related causes is called deforestation.

Causes of Deforestation:

• Requirement of wood for fuel, for making furniture etc.
• Procuring land for cultivation, building houses and factories
• Overgrazing of land by cattle.

Consequences of Deforestation:

• Deforestation increases the temperature and pollution level on the earth.
• It increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Ground water level also gets lowered.
• Deforestation disturbs the balance in nature.
• Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Fewer trees would mean less consumption of carbon dioxide thus resulting in its increased amount in the atmosphere.
• This will lead to global warming as carbon dioxide traps the radiations reflected by the earth. The increase in temperature on the earth disturbs the water cycle and may reduce rainfall. This could cause droughts.
• Deforestation leads to the change in soil properties.
• Physical properties of the soil get affected by plantation and vegetation.
• Removal of the top layer of the soil exposes the lower, hard and rocky layers.
• This soil has less humus and is less fertile. Gradually the fertile land gets converted into deserts. It is called desertification.
• Deforestation leads to a decrease in the water holding capacity of the soil. The movement of water from the soil surface into the ground (infiltration rate) is reduced.