Deforestation and afforestation - class-VIII

Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands (forestation) that have been depleted, usually through deforestation. Reforestation can be used to rectify or improve the quality of human life by soaking up pollution and dust from the air, rebuild natural habitats and ecosystems, mitigate global warming since forests facilitate biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and harvest for resources, particularly timber, but also non-timber forest products. Reforestation usually involves replanting areas of forest which have previously been damaged or destroyed, using native tree species. Sometimes forests are able to regenerate naturally if sufficient trees remain nearby and seeds can be dispersed into the deforested areas via animals or wind. However, areas of forest which have been severely degraded are unlikely to be able to regenerate naturally and need to be replanted by hand using native tree species.

According to global forest resource assessments, approximately 31% of the Earth's land area is covered by forests.

Plants remove carbon in the form of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis.

Deforestation removes the protective canopy and root systems that hold soil in place. This leads to increased soil erosion and can eventually turn fertile land into desert, a process known as desertification.

Deforestation is removal or deterioration of forest cover of an area. It results in shirking fuelwood, reduced timber, change in climate, soil erosion, flash floods, siltation, drought, loss of biodiversity, less rainfall, global warming etc.

Forest destruction i.e. deforestation has many after effects, it leads to soil erosion, loss of habitat, etiction of wildlife, floods & drought conditions.

Deforestation is the process of extensive cutting of trees, which finally leads to the destruction of forests as the trees are removed in large numbers, the water cycle gets disturbed which results in decrease in rainfall

Afforestation is the process of planting a large number of trees for increasing forest cover, while deforestation is the process of cutting trees in large numbers from the forest.

Deforestation means clearing or removal of forest by extensive cutting of trees, water cycle which goes on in the environment gets disturbed by lack of  sufficient number of trees. Trees increase the amount of rainfall due to transpiration, therefore if number of trees decrease rainfall also decreases, while other factors given in the options A, B & D increases.

When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. A decrease in the species diversity progresses to extinction if left uncontrolled. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, small population, massive habitat loss and position at a higher trophic level favor extinction. As forests are the main habitat for the wild animals, their loss favors the extinction of the same.

Tectona (teak) is a tropical tree genus native to South and Southeast Asia. It does not naturally grow in temperate forests, making this pairing incorrect.

When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, habitat loss, small population and position at a higher trophic level favor extinction. Since the species residing in the tropics have their major habitat in the form of forests, thus deforestation causes, extinction of such species.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees in an area that did not previously have forest cover or has been cleared for a long time. It is a key strategy for increasing forest cover.

Since deforestation means cutting down of trees. So, it will result in desertification of an area, global warming because of increase in CO$ _2$ in the environment since plants are not available to fix it by photosynthesis, and can cause drought because of imbalance in water cycle of an area. But, deforestation will never cause forest fires because the forests are not available to catch the fire as they are being cut down in case of deforestation.

Jhum is the traditional name for slash-and-burn agriculture practiced in Northeast India, where trees are cut, burned, and crops are grown using the nutrient-rich ash.

An endangered species is the species whose population faces a sudden downfall. In the case of wild animals, their habitat is the forest and deforestation of the forests due to ecological disasters, or use of timber for the construction of buildings makes them insecure in their homestead. 

Loss of vegetation (deforestation) results in an increased risk of flooding. With natural forest cover, the flood duration should decrease. Reducing the rate of deforestation should improve the incidents and severity of floods. Reforestation and afforestation are two strategies to increase the vegetation cover, that can improve infiltration and interception rates, and thus regulate flood peaks. Reforestation refers to planting trees in areas, where they have been cut down, while afforestation means planting trees, where they have never existed. Dams and reservoirs are effective in controlling floods by reducing peak flows. 

Deforestation is the destruction of forest which causes loss of habitat and other problem like

Effects of deforestation on villages- Roots of plants hold soil particles together. In the absence of plants, the top layer of the soil will be easily removed by the action of high-speed winds or water flow. Thus, deforestation increases the chances of soil erosion. As a result, soil loses humus and become less fertile. Hence, a fertile land, which is a source of living for farmers in villages, gets converted into a desert.

Deforestation is the cutting of trees. When trees are lost due to deforestation, the result can be a drier climate and desertification, or the transformation of the once fertile land to desert.

When forests are destroyed, the atmosphere, water bodies and the water table are all affected. Trees absorb and retain water in their roots and some of this moisture is transpired into the atmosphere, regulates the water cycle. When this process is broken, the atmosphere and water bodies begin to dry out. 

Frequent floods in plains of Northern India is due to deforestation in catchment areas. Deforestation in the catchment area has led to an increase in the silt content of the river flow. Bihar is India's most flood-prone State, with 76% of the population in the north Bihar living under the recurring threat of flood devastation.

Green plants lose water by the process of transpiration. This contributes a lot towards atmospheric moisture. Thus, green plants have major contribution in precipitation. Due to this, deforestation leads to reduced rainfall. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Desertification is defined as a process of land degradation due to climatic variations and human activities. Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. Other factors are urbanization, overdrafting of groundwater and deforestation. Thus the correct answer is option A.

Animals living in the forest include herbivores and carnivores. The dung of these animals are decomposed by insects living in the soil. This contributes to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that is trapped by bacteria in the soil. This provides nutrients to the seedlings to grow in forests. Thus the correct answer is option C.

Destroying a forest has many negative effects on the environment. Seventy percent of earth's terrestrial animals and plants live in forests. The most adverse impact is the loss of habitat for millions of species leading to disturbance in the food chain that is an important component of the ecosystem. Thus the correct answer is option A.

Cutting of trees or clearing the forest is called as deforestation. Deforestation not only affects the land from which it is cleared but it also affects the environment. Trees are very important for the environment because they help in reducing pollution by releasing more oxygen. They protect the environment in many ways and hence, cutting of the tree is harmful and affects the environment.

Reforestation is restocking of the destroyed forest by planting new trees. We should plant at least as many trees as we cut. Reforestation can take place naturally also.

Deforestation is the process of removal or the cutting down of the trees. The absence of the trees results in an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide which causes global warming. The roots of the plants help in holding the soil and deforestation causes soil erosion from the upper layer of the soil. The plants take up the carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis. When there are no trees, there is increase in the level of carbon dioxide.

Deforestation is removal, decrease or deterioration of forest cover of an area. It causes shrinkage of fuelwood, reduced timber supply, change in climate, flash floods, soil erosion, siltation, cyclones, drought, desertification, reduced rainfall and destruction of habitat. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Drought is the condition of shortage of water which affects all life forms. Flood is the condition of the overflow of water on land that can submerged plants, human-made articles and thinning of the ozone layer increases the global warming and climate change which affects the flora and fauna. All these conditions can harm the organisms and their habitat and thus, can threat to the biodiversity.

Deforestation is the depletion / destruction of forest resources. Its main cause is the explosion of human and livestock population with the increased demand of the basic needs. The major effect of deforestation is the loss of precious wildlife, rare species of flora and fauna due to loss of habitat, soil erosion, accentuated floods, drought, pollution and increased level of carbon dioxide.

Deforestation is driven by multiple factors, including the need for grazing land, demand for timber, and the expansion of land for cultivation.

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth's land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Deforestation also drives climate change. Since, trees purify air by absorbing carbon dioxide from atmosphere, loss of trees would result into increase in level of carbon dioxide.

Deforestation is defined as the purposeful clearing or thinning of forests, leading to the disappearance of forest cover.

The top layer of soil, often called topsoil, contains the highest concentration of organic matter and nutrients, making it the most fertile layer for plant growth.

A- Reforestation is natural or intentional restocking of forests that have been depleted mainly due to deforestation or any natural calamity. Reforestation gives boost to the wild life and helps in improving the air quality, climate control, improvement in natural resources and many more advantages for living beings.

Major problem in desert is lack of rainfall. While grazing of animals and local residents can be controlled but without rainfall growth of trees and afforestation is not possible. 

Laws allowing tree felling would encourage deforestation rather than protecting forest reserves. The other options are legitimate conservation measures.

Plants absorb water from the soil and looses it to the atmosphere by transpiration,hence,control the humidity in air by acting as a water exchanger between ground and atmosphere.

Deforestation causes carbon dioxide to linger in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide accrues, it produces a layer in the atmosphere that traps radiation from the sun. The radiation converts to heat which causes global warming, which is better known as the greenhouse effect.

Forestation is the general term for establishing forest growth in an area, regardless of whether it had trees previously or not.

Afforestation specifically refers to the establishment of a forest in an area that did not have tree cover previously.

Transpiration is the process by which plants loose water through their leaves in the atmosphere.

Subsistence farming is responsible for $48$% of deforestation; Commercial agriculture is responsible for $32$%; logging is responsible for $14$%, and fuel wood removals make up $5$%.

The water cycle is affected by deforestation.Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer transpire this water, resulting in a much drier climate.Deforestation reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater as well as atmospheric moisture. The dry soil leads to lower water intake for the trees to extract.Deforestation reduces soil cohesion, so that erosion,flooding and landslides ensue.

Desertification is a type of land degradation in which relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.

A duricrust is a hard, mineralized crust formed at or near the surface of the soil, often through the accumulation of minerals like iron or silica.

If deforestation is performed, there will be no trees so, the amount of the greenhouse gasses will increase in the atmosphere. These greenhouse gasses trap heat from the infrared radiation in the atmosphere and increases the atmosphere's temperature i.e, global warming. 

Farming is considered as the major source of air pollution due to man. This is the man-made source of air pollution which allows the particles to enter the atmosphere. The movement of tractors will cause the soil particles to rise up in the air. The particles from the fertilizers and pesticides spray enter the atmosphere. Also during harvesting and husking, the small particles in the form of pollens and husks can result in air pollution. 

Overuse of the water resources will result in the exhaustion of the water supply. The climatic change has resulted in global warming and seasonal variations. There is a decrease in the annual rainfall which was received by a region due to shortening of the seasons. Deforestation has resulted in a decrease in the number of trees which thereby affect the amount of rainfall which was received. There is soil erosion which results in water run off.The decrease in the level of the sea is not a reason for the shortage of usable water. 

Deforestation is the process of cutting or removal of forest to fulfill the need of the population. It has many negative impacts on the environment such as loss of species, soil erosion and reduces rainfall. The tree absorbs water from soil for photosynthesis and produces water vapor that is released into the atmosphere which in turn causes rainfall. If there will be less number of the tree then rainfall will also decrease. Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Forests occupy more than 30 percent of Earth's land surface and account for 50 percent of plant productivity. Therefore 45% of the carbon stored on land is tied up in forests. Further, these being the dominant terrestrial ecosystem, the forest account for 75% of the gross primary productivity of the Earth's biosphere and 80% of the plant biomass. Removing half the forest cover, will not only bring in an increase in the population of human beings and other living organisms but will also bring about increased pollution and a great ecological imbalance.

Floods are common in north India because of excessive deforestation in the catchment areas. Roots of the trees keep the soil together and drain the extra water into the underground water reservoir. Due to deforestation (cutting down of the trees), the soil is no longer able to hold or drain the excess water thus leading to floods. 

Deforestation in catchment areas reduces the soil's ability to absorb water, leading to increased surface runoff during heavy rains, which contributes to more frequent and severe flooding in downstream plains.

Soil erosion is the process of weathering of top layer of soil either due to natural factor or artificial factor. The natural factors are called as erosion agents. These include water, wind, ice. Water produces 4 types of erosion, namely splash erosion, sheet erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion. Gully erosion occurs due to drainage of soil by surface water runoff. Rilling erosion is the erosion due to concentrated water running through little streamlets. Deforestation is the artificial or man-made factor for causing soil erosion.

• Agroforestry is the planting of trees, shrubs, and others in between crop plants.
• Advantages of agroforestry practices include Increased crop production and economic gain. Soil conservation and improved soil quality. Sequestration of atmospheric carbon.
• Hence Planting of trees, shrubs, and others in between crop plants for stabilization of soil is Agroforestry.
• So, the correct answer is 'Agroforestry'.

Deforestation leads to irregular water cycle, as a result there is decreased rainfall, deforestation in catchment areas is the main resaon behind the decreased reainfall in northern region.

Deforestation leads to soil erosion, alteration of local weather conditions, destruction of natural habitat of wild animals, but it does not lead quick nutrient cycling

• Afforestation is the process of planting trees, or sowing seeds, in a barren land devoid of any trees to create a forest. The term should not be confused with reforestation, which is the process of specifically planting native trees into a forest that has decreasing numbers of trees.
• Hence Afforestation in relation to urban(cities) development is a component of Integrated forest development.
  
• So, the correct answer is 'Integrated forest development'.

Phytoremediation is a bioremediation process that uses various types of plants to remove, transfer, stabilize, or destroy contaminants in the soil and groundwater.

Mycorrhiza are symbiotic fungi that associate with plant roots, significantly improving nutrient uptake (especially phosphorus) and water absorption, which helps in the growth and survival of teak in denuded areas.

Forests are important for the environment as well as human life.

Deforestation is the cutting of trees which disturbs the equilibrium of a healthy environment. It increases the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. They produce oxygen and regulates the water cycle by releasing water vapour into the atmosphere. Without trees, forest lands can quickly become barren land. It also causes loss of wildlife, due to the loss of its habitat. Deforestation leads to famine (scarcity of food), flood, and drought as well as loosened soil causes soil erosion. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

If forest cover is reduced to half, it would adversely affect the inhabitants. In rural areas, a community of people lives in the forest as a part of their tradition. They are completely dependent on the forest for their basic needs. They worship the trees and consider it as their ancestral belongings. The dependent tribals on a particular forest will be harmed by the clearing of the forest.

Deforestation is the excessive cutting down of the trees which adversely affects the environment. It is not useful for increasing the agricultural production as because it creates several major problems like soil erosin, infertility, and droughts.

Deforestation is the removal of forest that can cause flooding. Coastal vegetation reduces the impact of waves and winds associated with a storm surge. Without this vegetation, coastal villages are susceptible to damaging floods. When trees are there, the roots are able to hold the soil and prevent erosion. When the roots are gone after deforestation, the soil can be errode and causes flood or other natural disasters.

Deforestation results in an increase in CO$ _2$ concentration in the atmosphere, greenhouse gasses like CO$ _2$ and methane significantly contribute to a changing climate. Reforestation involves the planting of the trees of same species. It is an effective method to reduce CO$ _2$ in the atmosphere, it also helps in restoring habitat loss and also helps in fighting against climate change and help in restoring endangered species from extinction.

The greenhouse gases are capable of trapping and reflecting the sun's radiations on the earth's surface. Examples include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides etc. These are naturally released by activities like volcanic eruptions, forest fires, respiration etc. But their increased levels have occurred due to the anthropogenic activities like deforestation, increased use of refrigerators (releasing CFCs) and increased combustion of coal and petroleum (releasing oxides of nitrogen, sulphur and carbon). Because of the increase in their levels, they have caused climate change by global warming.

A successful conservation strategy must be holistic, protecting the entire ecosystem including all physical components (soil, water, climate) and biological components (flora and fauna) to maintain ecological balance.