Give reasons.

(i) The rainforests are depleting.

(ii) Paddy is grown in the Ganga−Brahmaputra plains.

(i) There was a time when the green belt of rainforests covered about 12−14% of Earth’s land surface. Large-scale developmental activities have led to the clearing of large tracts of land in the rainforests (for example, clearing of land for agriculture, cattle pasture, wood, mining and road building). Today, the rainforests cover only about 2−6% of the Earth’s land surface. Due to constant deforestation, the top soil—which is held together by the trees—gets washed away as the rains fall. As a result, the once lush green forests change into barren landscapes.

(ii) The Ganga−Brahmaputra plains provide flat, fertile land for the cultivation of crops. The amount of rainfall in this region is also quite high, which makes it a suitable place for the growth of paddy—a crop that requires sufficient water.