8th Natural Resources (C18) Practice Test

Deforestation is the process of removing forests. It describes clearing or thinning forest cover, whether for farming, urban development, or timber extraction, and it highlights the loss of forest space.

This term is the best fit because it directly names the act of removing forests. The other terms describe different ideas: reforestation means replacing forests after they’ve been removed; afforestation refers to establishing new forests on land that wasn’t forest before; desertification is a broader land-degradation process that can include forest loss but isn’t specifically the act of removing forests itself.

Understanding deforestation helps explain impacts like habitat loss, biodiversity decline, soil erosion, and reduced carbon storage, all of which arise when forests are removed.