What's Driving Rainforest Deforestation?

Beef production is consistently identified as the top driver of deforestation in the world’s tropical forests. This is primarily in the form of forest conversion actions that cattle farmers undertake to create more pasture land and to grow feed. Beef production also promotes the conversion of non-forest landscapes like grasslands and savannas, and is a particularly prevalent driver in Latin America, where the Amazon Rainforest, the Cerrado Savannah, and the Gran Chaco dry forest are under threat.  

The second biggest driver of tropical deforestation is soybeans — and global soybean production has increased more than 15X since the 1950s. But before you shun the tofu, keep in mind that demand for soy is closely connected to demand for beef and other animal proteins. In fact, approximately 80% of all soybeans grown go directly into feed for cattle, poultry, and pigs. A significant amount of soy is also used to produce vegetable oil and biodiesel.

A ubiquitous ingredient in processed foods — as well as personal care products, biofuels, and vegetable oils, Palm oilis a major driver of tropical deforestation in Southeast Asia. Deforestation for palm oil is particularly harmful to the climate because plantations often are established in the carbon-rich soils of peatlands. Peatlands contain up to 28X more carbon dioxide than most forests. If peat soils are drained for oil palm plantations, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly larger than the carbon loss from the forest biomass. As a result, palm oil contributes more global warming emissions than any other agricultural commodity besides beef. 

An estimated 380,000 hectares of forest are cut every year to meet the global demand for wood and wood products — and account for around 60% of forest degradation. Another 25% of forested areas are degraded for fuelwood and charcoal. The two main categories of wood products are: pulp and timber. Pulp is made from tree fibers and is used to produce paper and related products — and primarily drives deforestation in Indonesia. Timber, which is used for building construction and high-end wood products, usually results in extracting "valuable" trees from a forest. Areas that are degraded in this way are much more likely to be slated for conversion and other extractive uses.