Deforestation generally decreases

A. Global warming

B. Drought

C. Rainfall

D. Soil erosion

The large-scale destruction of forests is known as deforestation. It has harmful effects on both human life and the environment. Continuous cutting of trees has destroyed vegetation, caused a loss of natural habitats, and threatened many natural resources.

Causes of Deforestation:

• Human activities like overpopulation, industrialization, urbanization, road building, and mining put heavy pressure on forests.
• Many plant and animal species are now endangered or on the verge of extinction.
• Natural factors like droughts, floods, earthquakes, and pollution also contribute to forest destruction.

Effects of Deforestation:

• Less Rainfall: Trees play a vital role in the water cycle, and their loss reduces rainfall.
• Global Warming: Fewer trees mean higher levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat and raises Earth’s temperature.
• Soil Erosion: Tree roots bind the soil. Without trees, soil becomes loose, leading to erosion.
• Climate Imbalance: The removal of trees disturbs the natural balance of water on land and in the atmosphere, affecting climate patterns.

Deforestation and the Water Cycle

• Trees absorb water from the soil and release it into the atmosphere through transpiration.
• This process helps form clouds and rainfall.
• When forests are cut down, less water is absorbed and evaporated, leading to fewer clouds and reduced rainfall.

Options Explaination

• Option A: Wrong. Deforestation increases CO₂ and global warming, but the question focuses on rainfall.
• Option B: Wrong. While deforestation can cause drought, the main link here is reduced rainfall.
• Option C:Correct. Fewer trees = less transpiration = fewer clouds = reduced rainfall.
• Option D: Wrong. Deforestation does cause soil erosion, but again, the question is about rainfall.

Final Answer: The correct option is C) Rainfall.