When an animal is killed illegally, it is called poaching. It usually occurs when an animal possesses something that is considered valuable.
Effect of Poaching on environment : The whole ecosystem is affected due to harm caused on animal population. Everything from the animals to the plants and even the people in a specific place is negatively affected. We need various species of flora and fauna in our environmental ecosystem so that it is balanced and healthy. Our own survival depends on it.
Effect of Poaching on humans : Two serious problems are faced by humans, first is spread of food-borne illnesses e.g., Ebola and anthrax and second major affect is depletion of natural resources.

Deforestation is a major cause which leads to the change in soil properties. Physical properties of the soil get affected by plantation and vegetation. Trees also prevents soil erosion; fewer trees result in more soil erosion. Removal of top fertile layer of soil exposes the lower, hard and rocky layers. This soil has less humus and is less fertile. So, it is not good for plantation. Gradually the fertile land gets converted into deserts, it is called desertification. This way deforestation leads to desertification.

Various causes of loss of biodiversity:
(i) Increase in population.
(ii) Deforestation.
(iii)Overgrazing
(iv) Pollution of air, water and soil
(v) Habitat destruction
(vi) Hunting and killing of animals.

Protected area is the area where our flora and fauna and their habitats are protected. They are called sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves. Plantation, cultivation, grazing, felling trees hunting and poaching are prohibited there.
Sanctuary : Areas where animals are protected from any disturbance to them and their habitat.
National parks : Areas reserved for wildlife where they can freely use the habitats and natural resources.
Biosphere Reserves: Large areas of protected land for conservation of wild-life, plant and animal resources and traditional life of the tribals living in the area.

Poaching is when an animal is killed illegally.
It usually occurs when an animal possesses something that is considered valuable (e.g. fur or ivory).
Poaching effect on environment The whole ecosystem is affected due to harm caused on animal population. Everything from the animals to the plants and even the people in a specific place are negatively affected.
We need various species of flora and fauna in our environmental ecosystem so that it is balanced and healthy. Our own survival depends on it.
Effect on humans Two serious problems are faced by humans first is spread of food-borne illness, e.g. Ebola and anthrax and second major affect is depletion of important natural resources.

(a) Endangered species are species that have reduced to a level which poses immediate. danger of extinction, e.g. one-horn rhinoceros, great Indian bustard, musk deer, etc.
(b) Threat to biodiversity is from following factors, i.e. cutting of trees, hunting, fishing, industrialisation, etc.
(c) It is wrong to harm the animals as each animal is important in the ecosystem.
(d) Asiatic lion, lion-tailed macaque are endemic species of India.
(e) Alok is a brave and courteous boy. He expressed his love for animals and commitment towards the environment.

When the forest trees are cut down, then the lesser number of trees put less water vapour into atmosphere through transpiration. Since, less water vapour is put into the atmosphere, there is less rainfall in that area.
When there is less rainfall in an area, then less water percolates into the ground. Due to this, the groundwater level also gets lowered.
The shortage of surface water (in ponds, lakes, etc) and groundwater due to persistent low rainfall in an area can lead to droughts.
Deforestation also leads to a decrease in the water holding capacity of the soil. The movement of water from the soil surface into the ground is reduced. So, there are floods.

Trees (and other plants) use carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere for the process of food making called 'photosynthesis'. When a lot of trees are cut down during deforestation, then lesser number of trees will be left. The lesser number of trees will use up less carbon dioxide due to which the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase. In this way, deforestation increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide gas traps the sun's heat rays reflected by the earth (causing greenhouse effect). Trapping of heat rays by carbon dioxide increases the temperature of earth's atmosphere. This will lead to global warming. The gradual increase in the overall temperature of earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse effect caused by the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called global warming.

Trees are used in making papers. About 17 fully grown trees are used to make one tonne of paper. So wastage of paper is also a cause of deforestation. Therefore, we should recycle and save the papers. If we save papers, we can save many trees in a year. In this way, recycling and saving of papers is directly related to avoid the deforestation.

Aeforestation is restocking of the destroyed forests by planting new trees.
(i) It retains our green wealth for future generations.
(ii) It also aims at preservation and conservation of natural forests and meeting the basic needs of the people living in or near the forests.