Short Term Environmental Effects Increased Soil Erosion No trees anchoring the fertile soil Erosion is sweeping the land into rivers The agricultural plants replacing the forests are unable to hold onto the soil Since 1960 a third of world's arable land has been lost As fertile soil washes away producers move on, clearing more forests Disruption of Water Cycles Trees play a key role in the local water cycle Keep balance between the water on the land and the water in the atmosphere Disrupted balance changes the precipitation and river flow