What is Deforestation?

Human-caused or natural causes which lead to the cutting down of trees and reduced forest areas is called
deforestation. Generally, it is the human activities of urbanisation, construction etc., which have been the
major cause of deforestation across the world.

Causes of Deforestation
Given below are the major causes of deforestation:
 Commercial or Industrial Agriculture
 Construction of new buildings, roads, and other infrastructural facilities
 Increased Population
 Mining is another important factor for the increased cutting down of trees and forest areas
 The change in climate is one of the main natural causes which has resulted in loss of forests
 Natural calamities
 Unsustainable forest management

Effects of Deforestation
Deforestation has impacted the environment and livelihood of many. Discussed below are a few of the main
effects of deforestation:
 Loss of habitat for various animal and plant species
 Environmental Disbalance is another side effect of deforestation. Due to the absence of an ample
number of trees and forest areas across the globe, the environment and the atmosphere is facing severe
climatic changes
 A lot of people rely on forests for their livelihood. These people are adversely affected due to
deforestation
 It degrades the quality of soil
 The water cycle gets disturbed