Final answer:
Deforestation is predominantly caused by human activities such as agriculture, urban expansion, fuel wood collection, and industrial activities which include logging and large-scale farming. These practices result in significant environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss and climate change. Sustainable resource management is necessary to address the issue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major causes of deforestation include a variety of human activities such as agriculture, shifting cultivation, developmental projects, urbanization, fuel wood collection, and industrial activities. Deforestation occurs when forests are cleared more rapidly than they can regenerate naturally, leading to loss of biodiversity, changes in rainfall patterns, and contribution to climate change.
In areas like Bangladesh, fuel wood is a significant contributor to forest depletion, with wood being an essential resource for cooking and construction. As urban populations grow, the demand for land for agriculture and housing also increases, further pressuring forested areas. Industrial activities, including logging, mining, and large-scale agricultural operations driven by the global market demand for commodities like beef and soy, exacerbate the issue, especially in countries such as Brazil. Furthermore, these activities are inducing road construction which facilitates easy access to previously unreachable forested areas, resulting in accelerated deforestation.
To combat deforestation, alternative practices and sustainable management of natural resources are needed to balance human needs with environmental conservation. This includes promoting the use of alternative building materials, improving agricultural practices to reduce the need for new land clearing, enforcing regulations on industrial expansions, and supporting reforestation efforts.