with less trees, there would be a smaller chance of wildfires
however, the root systems of trees help hold the soil in place; with less trees, there would be more erosion because there would be nothing to hold the soil in place
more erosion could lead to more landslides, which would disturb the ecosystem and cause succession to take place
in addition, the Amazon loses valuable topsoil as rains wash away soil that is not held in place by trees
this loss in topsoil reduces the production capacity of the farmland, causing companies to clear even more land in order to find better farmland (Butler Impact)