The environmental effects of deforestation include:
- Soil erosion - Deforestation removes the trees that anchor the soil, leading to increased erosion.
- Poisoning wildlife - The loss of habitat and increased human activity can lead to contamination of ecosystems, affecting wildlife.
- Water temperature increase - With trees removed, there is less shade, which can cause water temperatures in nearby rivers and streams to rise.
- Temperature decrease - This is less common, as deforestation typically leads to temperature increases in the local environment due to the loss of shade and transpiration from trees.
The most direct and immediate environmental effect of deforestation from the given options would be soil erosion.