What are the major differences between deforestation and afforestation?
Differences between deforestation and afforestation are elucidated.
| DEFORESTATION | AFFORESTATION |
|---|---|
| Destruction of trees in the forest area and converting large area of land as a habitat for human beings is called as deforestation | Afforestation is planting of trees in barren lands to increase the area under forests. |
| Deforestation has many ill-effects on the environment. | Afforestation influences the climate of a particular area and shows positive effect on the environment. |
| Different causes for deforestation are urbanisation, industrialisation, construction of irrigation structures, forest fires, mining activities,wood collection etc. | Different causes for afforestation are to maintain the favourable temperature in the environment, regulate monsoons causing rainfall, restoring forests, providing habitat for wild life, prevent soil erosion etc. |
| Deforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide levels, global warming, late arrival of monsoon, effect on climate, loss of habitat by wildlife etc | Afforestation helps in maintaining balance in the nature. |
| Deforestation should be controlled | Awareness about afforestation should be created. Different afforestation programmes in India are Social Forestry, Agro Forestry and Urban Forestry Programme. |