deforestation

Everyday

Deforestation is the cutting down or burning of large areas of forest, so the trees are gone and the land is used for something else. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science, deforestation is a big world problem: forests like the Amazon rainforest are cleared for farms, cattle, palm oil, mining or wood. It destroys animals' homes (habitats), causes soil erosion and floods, and adds carbon dioxide to the air, making climate change worse. Solutions: replanting (reforestation), protecting forests, recycled paper and buying sustainable wood.

Examples

• Deforestation destroys the homes of orangutans. tree →
• The Amazon rainforest is shrinking because of deforestation. tree →
• Deforestation adds carbon dioxide to the air. tree →
• After deforestation, rain washes the soil away. tree →
• Our class wrote letters about stopping deforestation. tree →
• Planting trees helps undo deforestation. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Verb: deforest. Opposite: reforestation, afforestation (planting new forests). Prefix «de-» means taking away.