What effect can deforestation have on water resources?

Water cycle and water holding capacity may be affected

Forests influence water in several connected ways. Their roots and leaf litter help soil absorb and hold rainwater, while vegetation releases moisture and supports parts of the local water cycle. When forests are cleared, infiltration and water storage may decline, runoff and erosion may rise, and the timing or availability of water can change. The exact effect depends on climate, soil, slope and the scale of clearing.

Option A is correct because it states a possible effect without making an absolute claim. Rivers do not always increase, rainfall does not always double, and water remains necessary after deforestation. The word “may” is important: geography questions often test interdependence and ask how one resource can influence another through natural processes.

This is a Class 10 Geography question. Chapter: Resources and Development. Topic: resource interdependence.