How does deforestation contribute to climate change?

Deforestation significantly contributes to climate change primarily by increasing CO2 levels through tree removal. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. When forests are cleared or burned, not only is this carbon absorption capacity lost, but the carbon stored in trees is also released back into the atmosphere. This increase in atmospheric CO2 is a major driver of global warming, as CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere, leading to an overall rise in temperatures.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship between deforestation and climate change. For example, increasing the number of tree species, reducing CO2 levels, or creating more agricultural land does not directly address how tree removal impacts atmospheric carbon levels. Instead, deforestation leads to the opposite effect—elevating carbon emissions and exacerbating climate change.