Ecology and the Environment - Human Influences on the Environment (Paper 2)

Question 1

what are the effects of deforestation on the environment?

Answer 1

• loss of trees means minerals and nutrients that are normally absorbed by trees remain in the soil and can be washed into rivers or lakes
• tree roots help in stabilising the soil to prevent erosion by rain
• transpiration in trees release water vapours into the atmosphere, so loss of trees disturbs this
• trees conduct photosynthesis, so without trees the atmospheric balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is disturbed