Deforestation is the process of cutting down or clearing forests. The most common cause of deforestation is agriculture and livestock grazing. But urbanization, mining and infrastructure projects also contribute. Deforestation can lead to many problems including soil erosion, loss of biodiversity (microbes, plants and animals), and change in microclimates that affect endemic species (native species which live only in specific environmental and habitat conditions).
It is very important to conserve the world’s rainforests because they contain a huge number of plant and animal species. In fact, it is estimated that rainforests house more than half of all the world’s plant and animal species!
However, the logging and burning of these rainforests are causing them to be lost at a staggering rate. Over the past 300 years, we have seen half of the world’s forests disappear. This is much faster than in previous millennia.
Normally, trees absorb carbon dioxide and keep it in their wood and soil. When they are cut down or burned, they release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere and this contributes to climate change. Deforestation also releases other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
Farmers and big agricultural companies are the main drivers of deforestation. They clear the land to grow crops such as soy, sugar cane, rice and palm oil to sell to global food and cosmetics companies. Other causes of deforestation include:
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