Intensive farming practices are expected to have what effect on forests?

Intensive farming practices typically focus on maximizing crop yields and efficiency on a given area of land. While they can potentially help preserve forests in certain contexts, this is primarily through the argument that using existing agricultural land more efficiently can reduce the pressure to convert forested areas into farmland. By increasing productivity on already cleared land, farmers might be less inclined to clear additional forest areas for planting crops.

In regions where agriculture is expanding, if farmers can achieve higher yields per acre through intensive practices such as using improved seed varieties, fertilizers, or advanced irrigation techniques, the need to encroach on forested lands diminishes. Hence, it can be argued that such practices, when managed sustainably, could lead to a reduction in deforestation pressures rather than contributing to them.

The other options do not accurately reflect the complex relationship between intensive farming and forests. The expectation that intensive farming will destroy forests or contribute to increased deforestation rates overlooks scenarios where smart agricultural strategies are employed. Additionally, the notion that intensive farming would have no impact on forests ignores the reality that agricultural practices inherently interact with land use and ecosystem management.