What is the effect of deforestation on the carbon cycle?

Deforestation significantly impacts the carbon cycle by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Trees play a crucial role in sequestering carbon dioxide; they absorb this greenhouse gas during the process of photosynthesis and store carbon in their biomass. When forests are cleared or burned, not only is this stored carbon released back into the atmosphere, but the removal of trees also means that there are fewer plants available to absorb carbon dioxide going forward. This dual effect leads to an overall increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which contributes to climate change and global warming.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the consequences of deforestation. For example, increasing oxygen levels would be contrary to what happens during deforestation, as fewer trees mean less oxygen is being produced. Saying that deforestation reduces carbon emissions ignores the fact that it actually releases stored carbon. Lastly, claiming that it has no effect ignores the well-documented consequences of deforestation on the carbon cycle and the broader environmental impact.