The Causes of Deforestation
Deforestation is caused by many everyday aspects
that we depend on, or that we cause. With growing agriculture rates, forest fires, and population growth, major problems begin to arise with the concern over tree populations dissipating around the world. |
SoyBean plantationsWith agriculture growing around the world, soybean plantations are becoming more prominent. Not only is soy found in many food products, but it is also found in animal feed, cosmetics, and biofuels. Since the 1950's, global soybean production has increased by over 15%.
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PALM OIL PLANTATIONSAnother growing agricultural business is the palm oil business. Palm oil, similarly to soybean, is found in many foods, detergents and cosmetics. The palm oil commonly used in these products is from the nearly 27 million hectares of palm oil plantations that cover the Earth.
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Nearly 950,000 hectare of land are used each year to provide for the expansions of soybean and palm oil plantation around the world.
CATTLE RANCHINGThe number of cattle ranches found around the world continue to increase with the growing population as the need for animal products increases. In the past 50 years, the Amazon Rainforest has lost around 17% of its forest due to cattle ranching.
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FOREST FIRESWith increasing temperatures, wildfires have begun to become more prominent around the world. When they are used to clear land, they alter the shape and composition of forests. In California, over 11% of their land and forests has been lost due to forest fires in the past decade.
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LoggingLogging has grown around the world, with much of it being illegal. In fact, nearly 1/2 of all logging is illegal. Through illegal and unsustainable logging, forests have been exploited and degraded as most of these trees are not replanted.
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Population GrowthWith population number growing rapidly, the number of trees continues to decline with more land needed for family homes. As determined by Michigan State University, an average 2,000 square foot family home can remove anywhere between 3 to 5 acres of forest.
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Learn more about the causes of Deforestation
Works Cited:
Cook, Bill. “Facing the Facts.” MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 5 September 2019, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/facing-the-facts. Accessed 15 January 2022.
“Illegal Logging and Deforestation.” US Agency for International Development, 8 March 2021, https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/illegal-logging-and-deforestation. Accessed 15 January 2022.
“Palm oil – deforestation for everyday products.” Rainforest Rescue, n.d., https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil. Accessed 15 January 2022.
Voiland, Adam. “What's Behind California's Surge of Large Fires?” NASA Earth Observatory, 4 October 2021, https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148908/whats-behind-californias-surge-of-large-fires. Accessed 15 January 2022.
Cook, Bill. “Facing the Facts.” MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 5 September 2019, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/facing-the-facts. Accessed 15 January 2022.
“Illegal Logging and Deforestation.” US Agency for International Development, 8 March 2021, https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/illegal-logging-and-deforestation. Accessed 15 January 2022.
“Palm oil – deforestation for everyday products.” Rainforest Rescue, n.d., https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil. Accessed 15 January 2022.
Voiland, Adam. “What's Behind California's Surge of Large Fires?” NASA Earth Observatory, 4 October 2021, https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148908/whats-behind-californias-surge-of-large-fires. Accessed 15 January 2022.