Deforestation

Deforestation

Deforestation describes when trees are removed from forests. The reasons why deforestation is happening at such a rapid rate are:

Commercial farming

• Forest is often sacrificed to make room for cattle grazing as well as soya and palm oil plantations.

Commercial logging

• Timber can be sold for profit.
• Additionally, trees must be felled to build roads that allow loggers access into the dense forest.

Mineral extraction

• Mining and selling minerals is a very profitable industry.

Energy development

• Large areas of forest can be flooded when dams that genetrate hydroelectric power are built.

Population pressure

• Trees are often cleared to free up space for new settlements.

Subsistence farming

• On a small scale, individual farmers will often clear forest so that they can grow food…