Which activity can contribute to higher carbon dioxide levels and soil erosion?

Which activity can contribute to higher carbon dioxide levels and soil erosion?

• A. Urban development
• B. Deforestation
• C. Mining
• D. Reclamation

Answer: (B)

Removing forests changes two linked parts of how the land interacts with the atmosphere and the soil. When trees are cleared or burned, the carbon they stored is released as carbon dioxide, and with fewer trees to take up CO2, atmospheric levels can rise. At the same time, tree roots help hold soil in place and the canopy protects soil from the impact of heavy rainfall; without that protection, rain can loosen and wash away soil, increasing erosion. This combination—releasing stored carbon and destabilizing the soil—is most directly tied to deforestation, making it the best answer. Urban development, mining, or reclamation affect the land in different ways, but they don’t link the rise in CO2 and erosion as directly as removing forests does.

Removing forests changes two linked parts of how the land interacts with the atmosphere and the soil. When trees are cleared or burned, the carbon they stored is released as carbon dioxide, and with fewer trees to take up CO2, atmospheric levels can rise. At the same time, tree roots help hold soil in place and the canopy protects soil from the impact of heavy rainfall; without that protection, rain can loosen and wash away soil, increasing erosion. This combination—releasing stored carbon and destabilizing the soil—is most directly tied to deforestation, making it the best answer. Urban development, mining, or reclamation affect the land in different ways, but they don’t link the rise in CO2 and erosion as directly as removing forests does.