Table of Contents
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 16 Environmental Issues 16.9 Deforestation
Free PDF downloads of Class 12 Biology Chapter 16 on Deforestation, along with other chapters, are provided by experienced teachers following NCERT guidelines. These solutions help you revise the entire syllabus and aim for better grades. Sign up to get all exercise solutions sent to your email.
Overview of Ttopic
Deforestation means cutting down lots of trees from forests or other places to make things easier for people. It’s a big problem for the environment because it leads to fewer types of plants and animals, harms natural homes, messes up how water moves, and makes soil wash away. Deforestation also adds to climate change and makes the Earth warmer.
How Deforestation Harms the Environment
Impact on Carbon Dioxide Levels
- When forests are cut down, they can’t absorb carbon dioxide anymore.
- This adds to the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming.
- Deforestation also directly releases carbon dioxide into the air, contributing to climate change.
Disruption of the Water Cycle
- Trees help regulate the water cycle by absorbing and releasing water.
- Their roots help water penetrate the soil and increase its capacity to hold water.
- Without trees, soil becomes dry, leading to reduced water levels and even desertification.
- Deforestation can cause droughts and reduce freshwater sources.
Soil Erosion
- Trees hold soil in place with their roots and protect it with plant litter.
- Without trees, soil becomes vulnerable to erosion, especially on slopes.
- This erosion can lead to landslides and worsen during floods.
Impact on Biodiversity
- Forests are home to many different plants and animals.
- Deforestation threatens these species, leading to declines in local populations and even extinction.
- Thousands of species are lost every year due to deforestation.
- This loss of biodiversity can disrupt ecosystems and food webs, leading to further consequences.
How can we stop deforestation?
Governments can
- Make strict laws to stop illegal logging.
- Protect more forests under government control.
- Plan roads and dams carefully to save forests.
- Support farmers to use eco-friendly farming methods.
- Ban harmful farming like slash-and-burn.
- Encourage using alternatives to wood, like bamboo.
- Plant trees in places where forests have been cut down.
- Plant trees in organized forests for better production.
What can individuals do?
- Use less paper and choose alternatives.
- Avoid disposable items to reduce waste.
- Recycle paper and wood products.
- Spread awareness about deforestation.
- Join tree-planting projects.
FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology 16 Environmental Issues 16.9 Deforestation
What are the main reasons for forests disappearing?
One of the primary causes of forests disappearing is farming and raising cattle. Trees are often cut down to make room for farms because there's a growing need for food (which is partly due to there being more people). The big culprits behind deforestation in tropical areas are palm oil, timber, soy, and beef. Creating land for cattle to graze is also a major cause of forests being cut down.
What happens to the environment when forests are destroyed?
One of the biggest problems when forests are destroyed is global warming and changes in the climate. More than a fifth of the greenhouse gases that are warming up the planet come from chopping down tropical rainforests. Trees help hold soil in place with their roots, so when they're removed, soil erosion (when the soil gets washed away) becomes a big issue.
How does cutting down trees affect the water cycle?
Trees soak up water from the ground through their roots and then release it into the air through a process called transpiration. Trees are really important for the water cycle because they control how much water is in the air and they help get water from below the ground up into the air.
What can I do to help stop trees from being cut down?
You can make a difference by doing things like using less paper and using more digital stuff (like emails instead of letters), recycling what you can, buying things made from wood that's been certified as being good for the environment, and telling others about how cutting down trees hurts the Earth.
How does getting rid of forests affect the different kinds of living things?
Tropical rainforests are home to tons of different plants and animals. When the forests get chopped down, many of these living things lose their homes and are put in danger. Even tiny organisms like microbes, which help recycle nutrients and clean water, are affected by deforestation.
