Deforestation and Land Degradation

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution.It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. Ecological effect or degradation is created by the consolidation of an effectively substantial and expanding human populace, constantly expanding monetary development or per capita fortune and the application of asset exhausting and polluting technology. It occurs when earth’s natural resources are depleted and environment is compromised in the form of extinction of species, pollution in air, water and soil, and rapid growth in population.

Industries release harmful toxic effluents in the environment thus polluting it and impair healthy plant growth. It also occupies forest land and reduces the green cover.

When grazing lands were taken over and turned into cultivated fields, the available area of pastureland declined. Similarly, the reservation of forests meant that shepherds and cattle herders could no longer freely pasture their cattle in the forests. 

• Deforestation, clearance, clearcutting or clearing is the removal of a forest or stands of trees from the land which is then converted to a non-forest use.
• Deforestation results in habitat loss, reduction of prey populations, and direct hunting of tigers.
• Hence Deforestation has an impact on the population of tigers is a True statement.

Forests naturally absorb water from rainfall and slowly release the water into the rivers. After deforestation, rainfall flows too quickly to the rivers, stripping the topsoil and causing erosion and flooding to occur. When these floods break the river's banks, further problems arise as the path of the river changes and further soil erosion occurs along the river's new path. Deforestation also makes an area more arid, contributing to droughts.

B. Lack of vegetation

The main cause of soil erosion is the removal of vegetation. Vegetation removal takes place due to removal of forest covers and exposes the topsoil to water and wind. Unscientific farming has also led to barren lands.

Deforestation directly removes trees, and soil erosion degrades the land, making it difficult for forests to regenerate or survive. Both activities significantly hamper forest conservation.

Forest conservation is the practice of planning and conserving forests for the sustainability of future generations. Deforestation is the clearing of trees and thereby transforming a forest into cleared land. It results in the loss of habitat for millions of species. Global warming is condition in which there is increase in the earth's surface temperature due to effect of greenhouses gases which are released due to burning of soil, deforestation, etc. Afforestation is the establishment of a forest in an area either naturally or artificially where there was no forest previously. 

Land degradation in India is primarily attributed to improper land use and poor management practices, which lead to erosion and loss of fertility.

Afforestation is the process of establishing a forest on land, that has not been a forest for a long time by planting trees or their seeds. Soil erosion is when the soil is blown away by the wind or washed away by the rain. Roots of trees or plants hold the soil. Thus, when more trees are planted their roots do not allow the soil to be blown or washed away and prevent soil erosion.