Lack of water forces them to gather more fuelwood. So forests are denuded. Soil erosion results. Badly needed watersheds are damaged. Increased runoff and reduced water infiltration leads to drying up of groundwater resources, mudslides and siltation of rivers, lakes and irrigation canals.
Trees wither and die.
With no protection from wind and rain, refugees are exposed to the elements. Women and children suffer the most because it is they who are often saddled with the task of collecting firewood. They spend long hours traveling vast distances. Their health suffers and they are easy prey for marauders and bandits. According to Stevens, the refugee contribution to the degradation of the environment in a global context is very small.