Environmental Studies · Geography

Deforestation and Land Degradation

2,532 Questions

Deforestation and land degradation address the environmental impacts of human activities on natural ecosystems. Key areas include soil erosion, forest fires, and the consequences of overgrazing. These subjects frequently appear in the geography and environmental science sections of competitive exams.

Causes of deforestationForest fires consequencesSoil erosion factorsDesertification impactsAgroforestry benefitsReforestation advantages

Deforestation and Land Degradation Questions

Multiple choice geography the soil soil erosion (geo) soil erosion, soil conservation and uses of soil soil erosion and conservation

The principal cause of soil damage in Punjab and Haryana is _______.

  1. Over irrigation

  2. Deforestation

  3. Ravine erosion

  4. Overgrazing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In Punjab and Haryana, intensive agriculture and the use of canal systems have led to significant over-irrigation, which causes waterlogging and soil salinity, damaging the soil.

Multiple choice geography external forces - responsible for changes the soil soil erosion (geo) soil erosion, soil conservation and uses of soil

Which one of the following is not a result of soil erosion?

  1. Accumulation of silt in the river bed

  2. Deforestation

  3. Decrease in the percolation of water

  4. Decrease in the soil fertility
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is a cause of soil erosion, not a result of it. The other options (siltation, reduced water percolation, and loss of fertility) are direct consequences of the erosion process.

Multiple choice geography external forces - responsible for changes the soil soil erosion (geo) soil erosion, soil conservation and uses of soil

The principal cause of soil damage in Punjab and Haryana is ______.

  1. Deforestation

  2. Soil erosion

  3. Excessive cultivation

  4. over irrigation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As noted previously, over-irrigation in Punjab and Haryana has led to waterlogging and soil salinity, which are the primary causes of soil degradation in those regions.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation has an alarming effect on

  1. Increase in grazing area

  2. Sunlight

  3. Weed control

  4. Soil erosion or desertification of habitat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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.

Multiple choice evs - i rules are for everyone damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment sustainability of natural resources adaptations - mangrove swamps, fast flowing rivers and treetops halophiles pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation leads to

  1. Soil erosion

  2. Global warming

  3. Soil protection

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

What is the main cause for the extinction of some species in tropical forest?

  1. Deforestation

  2. Afforestation

  3. Pollution

  4. Soil erosion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Deforestation is the depletion of forest resources. It's main cause is the explosion of human and livestock population with the increased demand requirements of the basic needs. The major effect of deforestation is the loss of precious wild life, rare species of flora and fauna. Directly or indirectly, deforestation caused intensified soil erosion, accentuated floods, drought and the worst pollution.
So, the correct answer is 'Deforestation'.
Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Forest destruction results in

  1. Loss of wild life

  2. Floods and drought

  3. Soil erosion

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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

So, the correct option is 'All the above'.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation will decrease

  1. Soil erosion

  2. Land slides

  3. Soil fertility

  4. Rainfall
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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

So, the correct answer is 'Rainfall'

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation generally decreases

  1. Global warming

  2. Drought

  3. Rainfall

  4. Soil erosion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

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.

So, the correct answer is 'Rainfall'

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation does not cause ...........

  1. Desertification

  2. Global warming

  3. Drought

  4. Forest fires
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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.

So, the correct answer is 'Forest fire'.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

An effect of deforestation is

  1. Desertification

  2. Soil erosion and floods

  3. Depletion of wildlife

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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

1. Reduced biodiversity: when forest cover is removed, wildlife is deprived of habitat and becomes more vulnerable to hunting. 
2. The release of greenhouse gas emissions: deforestation causes 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 
3. Disrupted water cycles: as a result of deforestation, trees no longer evaporate groundwater, which can cause the local climate to be much drier. 
4. Increased soil erosion: deforestation accelerates rates of soil erosion, by increasing runoff and reducing the protection of the soil from tree litter. 
5. Disrupted livelihoods: millions of people rely directly on forests, through shifting cultivation, hunting and gathering and by harvesting forest products, such as rubber. 
Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Which of the following defines the effect of deforestation on cities (urban areas)?

  1. Increase the risk of floods and droughts

  2. Global warming

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Effects of deforestation on the Earth:
As a result of deforestation, chances of desertification, droughts, floods, etc. increase. Deforestation can also increase the level of CO$ _2$ in the atmosphere, it will lead to an increase in temperature i.e., global warming. As a result, the entire natural water cycle will get disrupted. This again increases the risk of natural calamities.