Deforestation speeds up the process of soil erosion because trees are vital in keeping soil intact. The roots of trees help prevent soil erosion because they absorb the water in soil. If there are no trees to absorb the water, flooding can happen more. In turn, flooding can cause the soil to weaken and this can cause landslides and other natural disasters.
Answer: Among the detailed categories of proximate causes for all regions, the extension of overland transport infrastructure, followed by commercial wood extraction, permanent cultivation, and cattle ranching, is the leading proximate cause of deforestation.
