Merriam-Webster defines deforestation as “the act or process of cutting down or burning all the trees in an area” (Def. 1). Sometimes, deforestation can happen unintentionally due to forest fires, climate change, floods and insects. Most deforestation occurs intentionally by humans to use land for farms and cities or to use trees for paper and wood products. This practice has existed since the dawn of man and since then approximately 80% of the Earth's forests have disappeared. If we continue at this rate, in a hundred years all the world's rainforests could disappear. Deforestation is harmful because it can lead to biodiversity loss, soil erosion and desertification. According to the World Wildlife Fund, tropical rainforests are home to about 80% of the known species on Earth, and this is where most deforestation occurs. Endangered species that live in forests, such as bonobos, giant pandas and Asian elephants, are particularly at risk of extinction due to deforestation. When a certain species is wiped out from an area, it impacts the entire food chain of that ecosystem. This is known as the domino effect. If a certain plant is removed from an ecosystem, the insect that relied on that plant will die from lack of food. The snake that ate the insect will also have no food. Deforestation can have a disastrous effect on almost all species that live in the forest. Deforestation not only affects living creatures, but also the soil and nutrients in forests. When trees are cleared from an area, the protective cover and shade that forest plants need is removed. If plants die, soil erosion occurs. The roots and water reserves of the trees, which contain soil and nutrients... in the center of the card... fit into the context. Network. December 2, 2013.Collins, Jocelyn. “Environmental Facts.” Desertification. NP, February 1, 2001. Web. November 29, 2013."Deforestation." definitely 1. Merriam-Webster online. Merriam-Webster and Web. November 27, 2013."Deforestation." Online collection of opposing points of view. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. 2 December 2013."Deforestation | Threats | WWF." WorldWildlife.org. Global Wildlife Fund, 2013. Web. 03 December 2013."Desertification." definitely 1. Merriam-Webster online. Merriam-Webster and Web. November 27, 2013.Stief, Colin. “Slash-and-burn agriculture causes loss of tropical habitat and biodiversity.” Biodiversity. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current Controversies. Rpt. from “Slash and Burn Agriculture: Slash and Burn Can Contribute to Environmental Problems.” About.com. Opposing points of view in context. Network. December 2. 2013.