Deforestation refers to the clearing of forests to make land available for human use such as agriculture, housing, and industry. This leads to serious threats including increased soil erosion, more frequent floods and droughts, loss of plant and animal species, and a warmer climate in deforested areas. Deforestation is caused by factors like population growth, extraction of wood for fuel and construction, agricultural expansion, fires, pests, and dams. Reforestation programs in India aim to reduce pressure on forests by promoting social forestry, agroforestry, urban forestry, and protected reserve forests.