Final answer:
Habitat destruction is caused by human activities such as deforestation for agriculture, logging, and urban expansion, leading to the loss of biodiversity and increased susceptibility to wildfires.
Step-by-step explanation:
Habitat destruction often occurs as a result of human activities such as deforestation for agriculture, logging, and urban expansion. These activities significantly contribute to the loss of natural habitats and subsequent declines in biodiversity. For example, extensive areas of the Amazon are being cleared for activities like large-scale cattle ranching and soy farming. Furthermore, the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture is a leading cause of deforestation in tropical rainforests, negatively impacting the environment and the species that inhabit these forests.
Environmental changes, especially in developing countries, are now driven by globalization and the demand for intensive agriculture and industrial activities, rather than just by the needs of local, small-scale farmers. This shift has led to a synergy of factors that promote massive forest fires, with human-ignited fires exacerbating the decline in forest cover. Selective logging and fragmentation of forests make them more prone to fires, increasing the rate of habitat destruction.