A major manufacturing firm wants to open in your rural town. Your town currently has a population of fewer than five thousand people. Much of its land is undeveloped and heavily forested. The firm has submitted a proposal to clear a three-mile tract of land on which to build the plant. The town council is considering the proposal and is concerned about the consequences of clearing so much forest land to make room for industry. What concerns are they likely to have?

increased biodiversity
soil erosion
increased pollution
water runoff
reduced precipitation

The cutting down of trees is often known as deforestation. This process leads to the increasing rate of soil erosion. It is because the roots of plants and trees holds the soil tightly and does not allow them to erode. So in absence of the trees, the soil particles are easily eroded due to the wind and water flowing over this region.

The area will also absorb a large amount of incoming solar energy in absence of trees, and also there will be a release of lot of harmful toxic gases that are harmful to the atmosphere, thereby creating pollution. Excessive emission of these gases will lead to a rapidly increasing pollution.

In addition to this, during the time of rainfall, the roots of the trees holds the water and percolates down into the deeper zones. But in absence of these trees, the water will simply flow over the area carrying away all its important nutrients, thereby losing the fertility of the soil.

Thus, they are likely to have concerns regarding the effect of soil erosion, increasing rate of pollution and water runoff over the area.

Hence, the correct answers are options (2), (3) and (4).