Subject: Biology - 9TH
Chapter: Biodiversity
Type: Free PDF Notes
Impact of Deforestation and Over Hunting — Free written notes for Biology - 9TH on EduFlame Pakistan.
Deforestation and overhunting both have serious effects on biodiversity because they directly disturb the natural balance of ecosystems where living things depend on each other for survival.
Deforestation:
Deforestation means cutting down forests on a large scale, usually to use the land for farming, buildings, or roads. When forests are removed, animals lose their natural homes and food sources. Many species cannot survive outside their habitat, so they either die or move to other places where survival is difficult. Trees also play an important role in producing oxygen and maintaining rainfall patterns, so when forests disappear, the whole environment becomes drier and less suitable for life. Over time, deforestation can also lead to soil erosion, where the top fertile layer of soil is washed away, making it harder for plants to grow again. This gradually reduces the variety of living organisms in that area.
Overhunting:
Overhunting means killing animals faster than they can reproduce. This reduces their population and can even lead to extinction of species. When a species disappears, it affects the entire food chain. For example, if predators are removed, herbivore populations may increase too much and damage plant life. On the other hand, if herbivores are hunted heavily, predators may not get enough food to survive. This imbalance disturbs the whole ecosystem.
So both deforestation and overhunting reduce biodiversity by destroying habitats, breaking food chains, and disturbing the natural balance of ecosystems.