Question

A practice called slash and burn is sometimes used to clear fields for farming. Slash and burn is done by cutting down trees in an area and then setting fire to the land left behind, destroying all plant life.

What is a way in which slash and burn farming can negatively affect an area?
A.
It can increase erosion because the plant life is no longer there to anchor the soil.
B.
It can make the land look nicer because it clears out all of the plant life.
C.
It can cause the number of animals in the area to increase because there are no more plants.
D.
It can increase the amount of food grown by increasing the number of farms in an area.

Answer 1

Slash and burn farming can lead to increased soil erosion and desertification due to the absence of plant life to anchor the soil, resulting in environmental degradation.

Step-by-step explanation:

One way in which slash and burn farming can negatively affect an area is that it can increase erosion because the plant life, which normally anchors the soil, is no longer present. The roots of these plants help to hold the soil together, preventing it from being washed or blown away. Without this vegetative cover, the topsoil can be easily eroded by wind and water. Over time, this can lead to a loss of fertile topsoil, reducing the land's ability to support plant life and leading to further environmental degradation such as desertification.