Editing Deforestation (section)

==== Other changes to the soil ====
Clearing forests changes the environment of the [[Soil biology|microbial communities within the soil]], and causes a [[loss of biodiversity]] in regards to the microbes since biodiversity is actually highly dependent on [[soil texture]].<ref name="YaleNews-2014">{{Cite news|date=2014-04-01|title=Deforestation of sandy soils a greater threat to climate change|language=en|work=YaleNews|url=https://news.yale.edu/2014/04/01/deforestation-sandy-soils-greater-threat-climate-change|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref> Although the effect of deforestation has much more profound consequences on sandier soils compared to clay-like soils, the disruptions caused by deforestation ultimately reduces properties of soil such as [[hydraulic conductivity]] and water storage, thus reducing the efficiency of water and heat absorption.<ref name="YaleNews-2014" /><ref name="Shukla-1990">{{Cite journal|last1=Shukla|first1=J.|last2=Nobre|first2=C.|last3=Sellers|first3=P.|date=1990-03-16|title=Amazon Deforestation and Climate Change|journal=Science|language=en|volume=247|issue=4948|pages=1322–1325|bibcode=1990Sci...247.1322S|doi=10.1126/science.247.4948.1322|issn=0036-8075|pmid=17843795|s2cid=8361418|hdl-access=free|hdl=10535/2838}}</ref> In a simulation of the deforestation process in the Amazon, researchers found that surface and soil temperatures increased by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius demonstrating the loss of the soil's ability to absorb radiation and moisture.<ref name="Shukla-1990" /> Furthermore, soils that are rich in organic decay matter are more susceptible to fire, especially during long droughts.<ref name="YaleNews-2014" />

Changes in soil properties could turn the soil itself into a [[carbon source]] rather than a [[carbon sink]].<ref name="Rebecca-2007">{{Cite web|last=Rebecca|first=Lindsey|date=2007-03-30|title=Tropical Deforestation: Feature Articles|url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/deforestation_update2.php|access-date=2018-02-09|website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov|language=en}}</ref>