Biology Now, 2e

Agriculture is the main driver of tropical deforestation, and

Brazil clears more land, by far, than any other country in the

world. Since 1990, Brazil has cleared over 42 million hectares

of forest, an area the size of California. Unless drastic

measures are taken, deforestation will continue as farmers

and companies clear land to meet rising global food demands.

Forest Devastation

Top 5 countries that

cleared the most forest

between 2000 and 2005

Deforested area, in thousands of hectares

Drivers of

forest

degradation

over time

(Latin America)

1%

3%2%

27%

67%

3%

16%

8%

73%

Brazil

15,515

Indonesia

9,357

Sudan

2,945

Myanmar

2,332

Zambia

2,224

Timber logging

Uncontrolled fires

Wood for fuel and charcoal

Livestock grazing in forest

Causes of

deforestation

(Latin America)

Agriculture (commercial)

Agriculture (local/subsistence)

Infrastructure (e.g., roads)

Mining

Urban expansion

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