Lateral meristem is the specialised tissue responsible for increasing stem girth. It is located along the circumference of stems and roots, where actively dividing cells continuously produce new tissues, increasing thickness and forming annual growth rings.
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Debarking damages the protective outer covering and may disturb food transport. The tree becomes vulnerable to water loss, infections and mechanical injury. If inner tissues are affected, movement of prepared food to roots and other parts decreases.
Phloem tissue would be affected by further trunk damage after debarking. Phloem transports food from leaves to other plant parts. Severe damage disrupts nutrient transport, weakening roots, stems and overall growth and survival of the tree.
If tissues beneath the bark are severely damaged, transport of food throughout the plant would be hampered. Phloem damage prevents movement of sugars from leaves to roots and storage tissues, affecting growth, repair and survival of the tree.
The answers assume that debarking damaged bark and phloem significantly but xylem remained functional. If assumptions change, such as deeper xylem damage or partial bark removal, water transport, survival and overall effects on the tree would differ.