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 economics environment pollution environment and pollution for a pollution free nature natural resources- air, water and land

Cutting of trees decreases:

  1. pollution level

  2. temperature

  3. fertility of soil

  4. carbon dioxide level
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation means cutting of trees. It is a major cause which leads to the change in soil properties. The nutrients are not replenished in the soil and the roots cannot hold the fertile soil in a place, leading to erosion. 

Deforestation also result in an increase of pollution level, temperature and carbon dioxide level.

Multiple choice evs - i receding water table water and ocean conservation water resources and conservation water conservation and irrigation

Forest control drought through

  1. Lot of water plants

  2. Increasing rainfall

  3. Retention of water and prevention of erosion

  4. Functioning as water shed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Forests helps in producing rainfall. More are the trees, the more water gets absorbed into clouds and the more it helps in rain falls. The roots of a tree make gaps in the soil so that when it rains the water can sink in before being absorbed by the soil. These spaces also allow air and water to reach the roots of the plants.  If the forests disappear, there will be less rain resulting in dryer conditions, that eventually lead to drought. Once this happens, the damage is extensive making it difficult to plant more trees or plants later because the soil is so hard and dry. When trees removed using heavy machinery, the soil is pushed down and the gaps fill in. Because all plants and trees need that water and air to reach roots, the conditions become unfriendly for new growth.

Multiple choice importance of waste disposal need and method for reducing, reusing and recycling waste geography

Which of the following must be practised to preserve and conserve the environment?

  1. Deforestation

  2. Recycling

  3. Soil erosion

  4. Increase in pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees to make room for something besides forest. This can include clearing the land for agriculture or grazing, or using the timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing.

Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice, snow, air, plants, animals, and humans.
As  deforestration, Soil erosion, and increase in pollution destroy the environment, Reecycling preserves and conserve the environment
 

Multiple choice chemistry water: a natural resource water resources and conservation receding water table water conservation and irrigation

Which of the following increase the rate of percolation of rain water into the soil?

  1. Constructing check dams

  2. Vegetation and trees

  3. Overgrazing

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

Check dams are specifically designed to slow down the flow of runoff, which increases the time water spends on the soil surface, thereby significantly increasing the rate of percolation into the groundwater.

Multiple choice geography climate and natural vegetation equatorial climatic region climatic regions the biosphere natural regions natural regions of the world

Deforestation leads to a _________.

  1. Increase in water holding capacity of soil

  2. Decrease in water holding capacity of soil

  3. Increased fertility of soil

  4. Decreased pollution level
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation leads to a decrease in water holding capacity of the soil. The movement of water from the soil surface to the ground  may lead to floods.

Multiple choice geography urban settlements urban land use and urban problems and solutions land use land use patterns

What factors affect the land use in rural areas?

  1. Soil, Climate

  2. Irrigation facilities

  3. Type of Slope

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

Land use is the function or functions that a man applies to the land available to him. The interaction between geographical factors and man have resulted in land use. There are numerous factors affecting land use. Following factors affect the land use in rural areas: Climate, soil, type of slope, Irrigation facilities etc.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution ways to prevent air pollution ways to reduce air pollution reducing air pollution

The quantity of $CO _{2}$ in atmosphere can be decreased by :

  1. Rain

  2. Forests

  3. Vegetation

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Plants play a very important part in reducing the amount of $CO _2$ in atmosphere, plants use $CO _2$ to make food and release oxygen, during rain, water get reacted with $CO _2$ in the atmosphere and form $H _2CO _3$ and hence reduce the amount of $CO _2$ in the atmosphere.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution introduction to environmental pollution introduction to pollution environment and pollution

__________  is the deterioration (destruction) of the earths land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of mans activities and their misuse of land resources.

  1. Land pollution

  2. Soil erosion

  3. Deforestation

  4. Enrichment of soil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earths land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of mans activities and their misuse of land resources.
It occurs when waste is not disposed of properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals onto the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution introduction to environmental pollution introduction to pollution environment and pollution

Which are the following consequences of deforestation?

  1. Decrease in rainfall

  2. Decrease in fertility of soil

  3. Increased global warming

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

All of the following are the consequences of deforestation.
(A) Decrease in rainfall
(B) Decrease in fertility of soil
(C) Increased global warming
Cutting of trees reduces amount of rainfall, it also decreases the fertility of soil. Deforestation increases the temperature and carbon dioxide level thus causing increased global warming.

Multiple choice geography agriculture in india - i : introduction agricultural policy in india indian agriculture problem and policies problems of indian agriculture

Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?

  1. Deforestation

  2. Intensive cultivation

  3. Over-grazing

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

Intensive cultivation.

In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation. Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and traces of over-burdening. In Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, deforestation due to mining has caused severe land degradation. In Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging leading to an increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for the cement industry and calcite and soapstone for the ceramic industry generates a huge quantity of dust in the atmosphere which retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land. Also, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of the country.

Multiple choice water and air and their importance natural resources- air, water and land air around us air chemistry introduction to natural resources land

Cutting down forests and using the land for other purposes is known as deforestation. It has adverse effects on the environment. Which of the following are correct regarding these effects? 
(i) Decrease in soil erosion  (ii) Increase in temperature (iii) Ground water level gets lowered (iv) Droughts and floods (v) Increase in water holding capacity of the soil

  1. (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)

  2. (ii), (iv) & (v)

  3. (ii), (iii) & (iv)

  4. (i), (ii), (iv) & (v)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses.
effects of deforestation:
Forests are complex ecosystems that affect almost every species on the planet. When they are degraded, it can set off a devastating chain of events both locally and around the world.
Loss of species: 
Seventy percent of the worlds plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats to deforestation, according to National Geographic. Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction. It also has negative consequences for medicinal research and local populations who rely on the animals and plants in the forests for hunting and medicine.
Water cycle: 
Trees are important to the water cycle. They absorb rain fall and produce water vapor that is released into the atmosphere. Trees also lessen the pollution in water, according to the North Carolina State University, by stopping polluted runoff. In the Amazon, more than half the water in the ecosystem is held within the plants, according to the National Geographic Society. 
Soil erosion: 
Tree roots anchor the soil. Without trees, the soil is free to wash or blow away, which can lead to vegetation growth problems. The WWF states that scientists estimate that a third of the worlds arable land has been lost to deforestation since 1960. After a clear cutting, cash crops like coffee, soy and palm oil are planted. Planting these types of trees can cause further soil erosion because their roots cannot hold onto the soil. "The situation in Haiti compared to the Dominican Republic is a great example of the important role forests play in the water cycle," Daley said. Both countries share the same island, but Haiti has much less forest cover than the Dominican Republic. As a result, Haiti has endured more extreme soil erosion, flooding and landslide issues.
Life quality: Soil erosion can also lead to silt entering the lakes, streams and other water sources. This can decrease local water quality and contribute to poor health in populations in the area.

Multiple choice water and air and their importance natural resources- air, water and land air around us air chemistry introduction to natural resources land

_________  is the man-made cause of deforestation.

  1. Urbanization

  2. Forest Fire

  3. Droughts

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

Urbanization is the man-made cause of deforestation. Whereas forest fires and droughts are natural causes of deforestation.
Urbanization is due to increase population. It is caused due to human activities. Urbanization decreases the area under forests which leads to reduction in the number of CO2 consuming trees. Hence, CO2 accumulates in the air.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity and conservation hotspots and methods of conservation biodiversity: conservation conservation of biodiversity basis of classification in animals basis of the classification of animals criteria for animal classification

Genetic erosion is due to

  1. Deforestation

  2. Shifting cultivation

  3. Adoption of genetically uniform varieties

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

Genetic erosion is a process whereby an already limited gene pool of an endangered species of plant or animal diminishes even more when individuals from the surviving population die off without getting a chance to meet and breed with others in their endangered low population. Low genetic diversity in a population of wild animals and plants leads to a further diminishing gene pool, inbreeding and a weakening immune system and fast tracks that species towards eventual extinction.