What is deforestation?

• A. The natural regrowth of forests after a fire.
• B. The protection of forests from human activity.
• C. The clearing or thinning of forests by humans, often resulting in loss of biodiversity and habitat.
• D. The contamination of forests by pollutants.

Answer: (C)

Deforestation means human-caused clearing or thinning of forests. People cut down trees and often clear land to use it for farming, development, or mining. When forests are removed, many species lose their habitat and food sources, leading to a drop in biodiversity. It also disrupts essential services the forest provides, such as stabilizing soils, regulating water cycles, and storing carbon, which can contribute to climate change. The other descriptions refer to different things: natural regrowth after a fire isn’t deforestation; protecting forests is conservation; pollution of forests describes contamination rather than removal of trees.