Question

Define:deforestation​

Answer 1

Answer:

Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities. Greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate.

Answer 2

Deforestation can be defined as the large-scale removal of trees from forests (or other lands) for the facilitation of human activities. It is a serious environmental concern since it can result in the loss of biodiversity, damage to natural habitats, disturbances in the water cycle, and soil erosion. Deforestation is also a contributor to climate change and global warming.

• Forests combat climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and acting as a carbon storehouse.They are a source of oxygen, food, clean water, and medicine.

• They play a vital role in the water cycle – they work to add water to the atmosphere via the process of transpiration.

• Forests help mitigate the disastrous effects of floods by acting as a floodwater sink. Therefore, deforestation also increases the vulnerability of the landmass to certain natural calamities.

• The large mass of trees in forest areas combats soil erosion by providing mechanical support to the soil.

• Forests are home to over 50% of all known species on the planet. They account for over 80% of the land-based biodiversity. Globally, forests are home to approximately 30,00,00,000 human beings.

• They are also a source of raw material for many commercially important products such as paper, wood, and fabric.

• Approximately 1.6 billion jobs are forest-dependent. Forests also account for approximately 1% of the world’s GDP (gross domestic product).

• Forests cover approximately 31% of the total land surface of the Earth.Tropical forests harbour over half of all land-based animal and plant species in the world.

• Between the years 2000 and 2012, over 568 million acres of forest has been claimed by deforestation.

• Approximately 9 million acres of virgin tropical forest was cut down in the year 2018.

• The Amazon rainforest, which is the source of 20% of the world’s oxygen supply, loses approximately 1.32 acres of its area every minute due to deforestation.

• Agriculture – small-scale and large scale farming

• Logging – cutting of trees for use as raw material

• Mining and urban expansion – clearing of forest area for the construction of infrastructure.