- A Planting new trees deliberately on previously degraded land specifically to help reduce long-term soil erosion rates over time under usual circumstances
- B Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, or development; causes: biodiversity loss, increased CO2, soil erosion, disrupted water cycle, desertification
- C Establishing brand new forest cover on land areas that had rarely previously supported any forest growth according to most researchers in the majority of cases studied
- D The natural, gradual renewal of forest cover that occurs spontaneously after a wildfire or major disease outbreak as widely reported in standard practice
Correct answer: B. Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, or development; causes: biodiversity loss, increased CO2, soil erosion, disrupted water cycle, desertification
Explanation: Deforestation: removal of forests (mainly tropical). Effects: (1) Biodiversity loss (most species in tropical forests); (2) Increased CO2 (forests are carbon sinks); (3) Soil erosion (roots hold soil); (4) Disrupted water cycle (transpiration contributes to rainfall); (5) Flooding; (6) Desertification. Main drivers: agriculture (soy, cattle), palm oil, timber.
Concept context
Pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, deforestation, and sustainability. Important for NEET and general awareness.