Explain how deforestation is responsible for land degradation and soil erosion.

Deforestation occurs when there is excessive felling of trees and to clearing large forests for agricultural practices and building settlements and industries or mining for valuable minerals in the earth's crust. This leads to soil erosion and land degradation because deforestation leaves the soil bare and prone to erosion by wind and water, and the fertility of the soil is also lost due to human activities. Also, the lack of trees to regulate the rainfall and the overall climate of a region results in desertification because there is no physical barrier against loss of top soil which aids in healthy growth of crops and vegetation for survival.