in order to expand agriculture and stimulate a sagging economy, the Brazilian government eased environmental laws which allow large tracts of rainforest to be cut down or burned. In three to five sentences, construct a potential chain of consequences for what can happen as a result of this kind of deforestation. The chain does not have to be linear (i.e., five steps in a row), but can have several branches, one for each different potential consequence. Your chain should include at least four steps, including the original event.

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1. The easing of environmental laws in Brazil allows for the cutting down or burning of large tracts of rainforest to expand agriculture, particularly for cattle ranching and soy production.

2. Deforestation leads to the loss of habitat for numerous species, including endangered ones, disrupting ecosystems and causing a decline in biodiversity.

3. As rainforests are cleared, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and exacerbating the global warming crisis.

4. The destruction of rainforests not only harms indigenous communities who rely on the forest for their livelihoods, but also depletes vital water sources, leading to soil erosion and reduced water quality, impacting local communities and potentially causing conflicts over natural resources.