GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Plants take up carbon dioxide exhaled by animals and release oxygen inhaled by animals. Thus, forests maintain a balance between the two gases in atmosphere. Deforestation disturbs this balance and increases the amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-2: -Deforestation contributes up to 10% of the carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activity, according to 2013 figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Detailed explanation-3: -Photosynthesis by primitive plants and algae released oxygen, which gradually built up in the atmosphere. Eventually, the amount of oxygen present in the atmosphere enabled animals to evolve.

Detailed explanation-4: -There is a misconception that the rainforests contribute significantly to the oxygen we breathe. In reality, the animals and microscopic life living in the rainforest consume most of the oxygen. As a result, the net production of oxygen by the rainforest or any forest is actually close to zero.

Detailed explanation-5: -Increase in oxygen percentage in the atmosphere can be done by planting more and more trees and reducing the rate at which trees are being cut down as trees and green plants are the absolute source of oxygen in the atmosphere.