What is the term for the destruction of forests?

The term for the destruction of forests is deforestation. Deforestation refers specifically to the process of clearing or thinning forests, which often involves the removal of trees and vegetation, resulting in the loss of habitat for wildlife, disruption of ecosystems, and contribution to climate change. This action can occur for various reasons, including agriculture, logging, and urban development.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees in an area where there has been no forest for a long time, while reforestation refers to planting trees in areas that were once forested but have been cleared. Urbanization involves the development of land for residential and commercial purposes, which may contribute to deforestation but is not synonymous with the direct destruction of forests. Therefore, deforestation is the correct term that specifically describes the phenomenon of forest destruction.