**2. Delineation and dimensions of deforestation**

### **2.1 Delineation of deforestation**

The conversion of forested areas into permanent non-forest areas and lands is known as deforestation [6]. Deforestation is defined also as a process of shrinking the areas of tropical forests for agricultural, grazing and construction purposes [4]. Other authors have presented some more definitions of deforestation. Tariq and Aziz [1] opined that deforestation is the degradation of the environment that threatens the quality of the existing forests. Notably, deforestation can be intentional and nonintentional clearing of the existing forests, through human activities [3, 12]. These land use changes come with enormous economic benefits for improved livelihoods across the world [13]. However, these benefits, could only be sustainable with good forest management practices [1, 6]. Therefore, it is important to create sustainable use of forest resources across the world, for sustainable development.

Deforestation involves the process of reducing vegetal cover in the forest's lands. This reduction of vegetation can either be man-made or be naturally enforced [14]. Deforestation occurs because of natural phenomenon such as wind and storm, veld fire and plant diseases. Moreover, deforestation comes in two groups, that is: 1) the change in land use and 2) the change in the land cover [3, 8]. These two groups can then be described as the categories of deforestation. Therefore, the **Table 1**, below, shows the examples of the two categories of deforestation:

#### *Delineation and Dimension of Deforestation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98290*

Pareta and Pareta [12] argued that deforestation is the wasting of existing forests vegetation and resources. Vegetation refers to all characteristics of plant cover in an area. Therefore, deforestation is the process of engaging in removing and reducing vegetation in the existing forest. The resources involve: stable soils, wildlife, balanced biodiversity, wildlife habitats, air and clean water. Significantly, in the process of clearing forests, humankind deprive themselves the wonderful Godgiven resource that is the beauty of the environment [14]. Of which, if it is taken care of, it offers great opportunities for recreation and tourism [6]. Recreation and tourism can be of economic importance as far as livelihood is concerned. Therefore, it is certain that the use of forest resources must be accompanied with sustainable use of readily available resources, for the betterment of the livelihoods of the current generation, without compromising the future generation.
