disforestation

9.8

Cutting down many trees in a forest, usually by people

noun
/ˌdɪsˌfɔːrɪˈsteɪʃən/

: deforestación

The disforestation of the Amazon rainforest is alarming.

Examples

Unregulated logging often results in significant disforestation, threatening local ecosystems.
Environmental groups are working to reduce disforestation in endangered rainforests.
The rapid disforestation of the area has led to severe soil erosion and loss of wildlife.
Many experts are concerned about disforestation in tropical regions.
The rapid disforestation of the area has led to severe soil erosion and loss of wildlife.
Unregulated logging often results in significant disforestation, threatening local ecosystems.
Environmental groups are working to reduce disforestation in endangered rainforests.

Synonyms

deforestation

vsdisforestation

18 4.3

The cutting down of large areas of trees that harms the land and animals

emphasizes deliberate clearing actions rather than environmental consequences

Antonyms

reforestation

3 3.8

Planting trees to bring back a forest after people cut or burn it

forestation

Specialized

1 3.8

Planting trees to make an area into a forest

How Extensive

clear-cutting

Specialized

2 5.2

disforestation

9.8

logging

67 3.1

Surface Forms

disforestation singular

disforestations plural

Morphology

disforestation = forestation (semi-transparent) = dis + forest + ation

The structure dis- + forestation is formally analyzable, but the form is nonstandard (the usual term is 'deforestation'), so learners may be uncertain or misled.

Etymology

Disforestation joins the prefix dis- (meaning 'undo' or 'remove') and forest (meaning 'woods'). So it pictures 'undoing the forest' or making trees disappear, which is why disforestation means the clearing away of forests.