Deforestation (noun)

1. The removal or destruction of forests.
2. The act of cutting down or destroying large areas of forest.
3. The conversion of forested land to non-forested land.
4. The widespread destruction of forested areas for commercial or personal use.
5. The process of clearing forests to make way for other uses such as agriculture, urbanization, or resource extraction.

Origin:

From the prefix de- meaning 'to remove' and the word forest, meaning 'a dense growth of trees'.

Examples:

1. The government has taken steps to reduce deforestation by implementing policies to protect forested areas.
2. Deforestation is contributing to global climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the degradation of essential ecosystem services.
3. The illegal logging industry is a major contributor to deforestation in many developing countries.
4. Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has resulted in significant harm to the local ecosystem and has released large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
5. The rate of deforestation in the region has slowed in recent years due to increased conservation efforts and stricter regulations.