Deforestation exposes soil to erosion over time

Steps:

• Identify deforestation's primary effect: removal of trees and vegetation that protect soil.
• Consider long-term consequences: without roots to anchor soil, rain and wind accelerate erosion.
• Evaluate options: link each to environmental changes from lost tree cover.
• Select the increase: erosion rises as soil washes away unprotected.

Why C is correct:

• Soil erosion increases because tree roots stabilize soil; their removal allows water runoff to carry away topsoil, as defined in soil science principles of vegetative cover protection.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Cloud cover decreases due to reduced evapotranspiration from trees, limiting moisture for cloud formation.
• B: Humidity drops locally as forests no longer release water vapor through transpiration.
• D: Soil fertility declines as erosion removes nutrient-rich topsoil, depleting the land.

Final answer: C