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Why can deforestation change the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for carbon, showing its atomic number 6, symbol C, electron configuration, atomic weight range, solid physical state, hexagonal crystal structure, and weakly acidic oxide properties. Color coding and icons indicate it is a nonmetal, solid at room temperature, with hexagonal structure and weak acidity. — carbon Carbon and its properties.

Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through two primary mechanisms related to the carbon cycle:

Loss of Carbon Sequestration: Forests act as vital carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing it in their biomass as they grow. When forests are cleared, this capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the air is permanently or temporarily lost.12
Release of Stored Carbon: Trees and other vegetation store significant amounts of carbon throughout their lifetimes. When these plants are burned or left to decompose, that stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.312

Because forests are major repositories for terrestrial carbon, their removal disrupts the balance of the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.42