How does deforestation impact the environment?

Deforestation significantly reduces biodiversity and contributes to climate change, making this the most accurate choice. When forests are cleared, the variety of habitats for countless plant and animal species is lost, leading to a decline in biodiversity. Many species may go extinct if their natural habitats are destroyed, disrupting ecosystems and the services they provide, like pollination and water purification.

Additionally, deforestation plays a crucial role in climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. When forests are removed, not only is this carbon-absorbing capacity diminished, but the carbon stored in trees is often released back into the atmosphere as CO2 when trees are burned or decompose, further exacerbating global warming.

Understanding these impacts is vital, especially in discussions about environmental conservation and sustainable practices, where maintaining forests is key to both biodiversity protection and climate mitigation efforts.