deforestation

Destruction of forest for timber, fuel, charcoal burning, and clearing for agriculture and extractive industries, such as mining, without planting new trees to replace those lost (reforestation) or working on a cycle that allows the natural forest to regenerate. The rate of deforestation is of major environmental concern as irreversible damage is being done to the habitats of plants and animals. Deforestation ultimately leads to famine, and is thought to be partially responsible for the flooding of lowland areas, since trees are needed to help slow down water movement.

Deforestation causes fertile soil to be blown away or washed into rivers, leading to soil erosion, drought, flooding, and loss of wildlife, and consequently affecting the biodiversity (biological variety) of ecosystems. It may also increase the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere and intensify the greenhouse effect, because there are fewer trees absorbing carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis.