Prepare a small project on "Rapid Urbanization and increase in Human Activity have led to conversion of forest to agriculture land."
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Answer:
Rapid urbanization is the development of the fast growing cities. To settle the growing population, forest and agricultural lands are being used up for making buildings, industries, malls, hospitals, schools and many other amenities for human comfort and luxury.
The forest cover has been reduced. From 1990 to 2016 about 502000 square miles of forest area has been lost. Human has been destroying forests for their own means. Let us discuss some of the major factors.
1. Growing population- The world population size has been growing at an alarming rate. To shelter, provide food and clothing, man has cut forest for building houses.
2. Agriculture and overgrazing- To satisfy human needs, agricultural land are being cultivated for more food crops, even encroaching the forest areas. Animal husbandry goes hand in hand with farming that has led to overgrazing.
3. Mining and constructions- Underground mining for various resources has weakened the earth’s crust, causing damage to underground layers of soil. Construction of various buildings for human needs from schools, hospitals to luxury hotels and resorts.
4. Soil erosion, drought, flood, forest fire have all led to degradation of soil and forest. This is resulting to formation of agricultural lands or desertification.
Thus, increased human activity has led to deforestation and developing agricultural lands. This is affecting the world climate as whole by increased temperature, less rainfall, drought and flood, global warming and melting of ice caps.