Large-scale DEFORESTATION (cutting down forests) has happened in tropical areas to:
Provide land for CATTLE and for RICE FIELDS (to produce more food).
Grow crops used to make BIOFUELS (fuels made from plants, e.g. ethanol).
Tropical forests are cleared quickly, often by cutting and burning the trees.
Effect on carbon dioxide
Deforestation changes the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in TWO ways:
LESS CO₂ IS REMOVED — fewer trees means less PHOTOSYNTHESIS, so less carbon dioxide is taken out of the air.
MORE CO₂ IS RELEASED — burning the trees releases CO₂, and when microorganisms DECAY the felled wood they release CO₂ during respiration.
The overall result is that atmospheric carbon dioxide INCREASES, adding to global warming.
Effect on biodiversity
Forests, especially tropical rainforests, are the richest habitats on Earth.
When a forest is destroyed, the HABITAT of countless species is lost.
Many species become locally extinct — so BIODIVERSITY is REDUCED.
Lost biodiversity can mean losing species before we even know their value (for example, plants that could be new medicines).
⚠️ Common Mistake
Deforestation raises atmospheric CO₂ for TWO separate reasons: fewer trees means less CO₂ is absorbed by photosynthesis, AND burning or decay of the wood releases stored CO₂. Give both. Also, decay releases CO₂ because MICROORGANISMS respire as they break the wood down — it is a biological process.
📌 Key Note
Tropical deforestation provides land for cattle, rice fields and biofuel crops. Consequences: less CO₂ removed (less photosynthesis), more CO₂ released (burning trees + microbial decay of wood), and reduced biodiversity from habitat loss.
🎯 Matching Activity — Deforestation: Reason or Consequence?
Sort each into a reason for deforestation or a consequence of it. — drag the symbols on the right to match the component names on the left.
Reason for deforestation
Drop here
Reason for deforestation
Drop here
Reason for deforestation
Drop here
Consequence of deforestation
Drop here
Consequence of deforestation
Drop here
Consequence of deforestation
Drop here
Growing crops to make biofuels
Carbon dioxide released by burning and decay
Reduced biodiversity as habitats are lost
Creating rice fields to grow more food
Clearing land to graze cattle
Less carbon dioxide removed by photosynthesis
🎯 Test Yourself
Question 1 of 2
1. How does deforestation lead to LESS carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere?
2. Burning felled trees and the decay of leftover wood both release carbon dioxide. Why does decay release CO₂?
⭐ How Well Do You Understand This Topic?
Be honest with yourself — this helps you know what to revise!
Don't get itGetting thereNailed it!
🤖 Ask Mr Badmus AI
Stuck? Just ask! 💬
I'll use FIFA for calculations and flag Higher/Triple content clearly.