Deforestation affects the soil and local climate by reducing the evaporative cooling that takes place from plant life. As a result, temperatures rise. In addition, the loss of vegetation leads to increases in soil erosion and rainfall runoff and drastically affects the biodiversity of the ecological system.
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The photo at the left was taken from the Space Shuttle on September 7, 1985, showing waters of the Mahajamba Bay on Madagascar Island. This sedimentation, seen flowing to the left into the bay, is a result of extreme erosion due to deforestation.
