What are the main causes of deforestation?

Every year, around 15 billion trees are destroyed thanks to deforestation, which is equivalent to an area the size of New York every two days.

Deforestation is a major cause of climate change and a big threat to the planet’s sustainability, but what are the main causes of deforestation?

Cattle-ranching

Cattle-ranching is one of the leading cause of deforestation, due to the large areas of woodland culled to create grazing land. The cattle industry has expanded massively in Brazil since the 1970s, which now has the largest commercial cattle herd on the planet.

To accommodate these increasing herds, large spaces of the rainforest are culled every year, often by the burning of trees, releasing stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Palm oil

Over 66 million tons of palm oil is used annually in a huge array of supermarket products, such as food, cosmetics and detergents, because it effectively extends shelf life.

To make space for palm tree plantations, huge areas of rainforest are being cleared every year. Not only does this deforestation produce greenhouse gases, but it is also pushing various species such as the Borneo elephant and Sumatran tiger to the brink of extinction, and indigenous people from their homes.

Paper

40% of the annual industrial wood harvest is processed to make paper, according to the WWF, with the process utilising wood fibres that originate from both plantations and natural forests.

Forests are the first line of defence against climate change, as they provide a carbon sink, removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Deforestation accelerates climate change by destroying this defence, allowing for an increase in greenhouse gases.

There are various causes of deforestation, but the effects of these practices are devastating. To create a sustainable future, deforestation is a major issue that needs addressing quickly.