What are the causes of Deforestation ? Explain.

Explanation

The removal/decrease or deterioration of forest cover of an area is called deforestation. Following are some of the causes of deforestation.
1. Jhumming. It is prevalent in N.E. States, A.P. Odisha etc. It comprises of slash and burn agriculture. Forest land is cleared every year through lopping, burning the remained, mixing the ash with soil and sowing the cleared land with crop seeds. The land is used for 2-3 years, without manuring and later discarded.
2. Hydroelectric Projects. Large forest areas get submerged in dams, reservoirs and other hydroelectric projects. It results in the death of all the flora and fauna of that vast area.
3. Overgrazing. Overgrazing of livestock, make the soil naked and compact, resulting in trampling of seedlings, reduce its water storing capacity and increase run-off causing erosion.
4. Development. For construction of roads and railways, building more residential complexes industrial town ships, more agricultural land forest areas are increasingly cleared.
5. Forest fires. Accidental or attentional fores fires deplete a large area under forest cover.
6. Requirement of wood. Increased demands of wood for industry, timber and paper industry are met only through cutting the forests.