What is Deforestation?
[[File:Lacanja burn.JPG|thumb|right|240px|A deforested area]] '''Deforestation''' is when [[forest]]s are destroyed by cutting trees ([[logging]]) or burning them purposefully, without replanting more. The most common reason is to clear the land to make space for [[farm]]s and [[ranch]]es. They also cut trees for [[firewood]] and [[lumber]] and replace them with [[cities]]. Deforestation destroys the [[habitat]] of many animals, leading to their death. The loss is more severe in primary or [[old-growth forest]]s, which are forests that have yet been untouched by humans. Deforestation also releases [[Carbon sequestration|sequestered carbon]]. Restoring trees in deforested places is called [[reforesting]]. == Causes of deforestation == [[File:5 مكامير الفحم.jpg|alt=cutting down trees|thumb|deforestation]] Land has other uses besides [[Forestry|growing trees]]. F[[farming|arming]] and [[ranching]] are the two main motives that contribute to deforestation. Some land is also used for roads and buildings, especially in urban area. As the population grows, people need to remove more trees. They also use the [[wood]] from the trees as [[lumber]] to make buildings and other things, or they burn the trees as [[firewood]]. Advantages to preserving forests: <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nobledatum.com/portfolio/deforestation-around-the-world/|title=Deforestation Around The World -|access-date=2017-12-12|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193326/http://www.nobledatum.com/portfolio/deforestation-around-the-world/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Regulates the [[water cycle]] to some extent * Produces [[soil]], and prevents [[soil erosion]] * Provides [[habitat]]s for [[animal]]s * Provides ''some'' of our [[oxygen]] (some is produced in the sea)<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6RfkqCUQyQC&pg=PA147|title=Plants: the potentials for extracting protein, medicines, and other useful chemicals (workshop proceedings)|date=September 1983|chapter=Mar