What is Deforestation?
Deforestation means cutting down forests and using that land for other purposes.
Forests are very important because they:
- Give us oxygen
- Provide food and medicines
- Are homes for animals
- Help in rainfall and climate control
Today, deforestation is a major threat to plants and animals.
Causes of Deforestation
Deforestation happens due to two main types of causes:
Deforestation
├──NaturalCauses
└── Man-made Causes
Natural Causes of Deforestation
These happen without human involvement.
Examples:
- Forest fires (due to lightning or extreme heat)
- Severe droughts
- Floods and storms
- Pest and insect attacks
- Volcanic eruptions
- Landslides
Flow Chart — Natural Causes
Natural Events
↓
Damage to forests
↓
Trees die or burn
↓
Deforestation
Man-made Causes of Deforestation
These are caused by human activities and are the main reason for forest loss.
Examples:
- Clearing land for agriculture
- Building houses and cities
- Setting up factories and industries
- Cutting trees for furniture
- Using wood as fuel
- Construction of roads and railways
- Mining activities
- Overgrazing by cattle
- Paper production
Flow Chart — Man-made Causes
Human Needs & Activities
↓
Cutting of trees
↓
Loss of forest area
↓
Deforestation
Summary
- Deforestation = clearing of forests
- It threatens plants, animals, and humans
- Causes are of two types:
- Natural (fires, droughts, floods)
- Man-made (farming, buildings, mining)
- Man-made causes are the major reason today
Activity Tip:
When your teacher asks, you can present the causes in a neat table:
| Natural Causes | Man-made Causes |
| Forest fires | Agriculture expansion |
| Drought | Building houses |
| Floods/storms | Factories |
| Pest attacks | Furniture making |
| Landslides | Mining & roads |
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