Deforestation

Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of trees from land that is then used for something else. This often means turning forest land into farms, ranches, or cities.

Today, about 31% of Earth's land is covered by forests. This is one-third less than before farming began. Much of this loss happened in the last century.

The main cause of deforestation is farming. Most new farmland or pasture for animals comes from cutting down forests. Forests are also cleared for plantations that make items like coffee, palm oil, and rubber. Other reasons include the wood industry, urbanization, mining, and wildfires.

Deforestation harms nature and people. It destroys homes for animals and plants, putting many at risk. It also affects the climate because forests help absorb carbon dioxide. Loss of forests can cause problems like desertification and soil erosion, and it forces indigenous people to leave their homes.

Definition

Deforestation is when forests are cleared to make space for farms or cities. This happens when trees are cut down and the land is used for something else.

Deforestation is different from looking at all changes in forest areas. Changes include both the loss of forests through deforestation and the gain of new forests. If more forests are lost than gained, the total forest land decreases.

Current status by continent, region, country

The world has 4.14 billion hectares of forest, which is 32% of all land. Europe has the most forest area, with 25% of the world’s total. South America has the most forests compared to its size, with 49% of its land covered in forests. More than half of the world’s forests are in just five countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America, and China.

The rate of forest loss has gone down globally, but it increased again between 2015 and 2025. This happened because forests were not growing back as fast in some places. Deforestation is still a big problem, especially in tropical and subtropical forests, where many plants and animals live. Since 1990, about 489 million hectares of forest have been lost worldwide, but the rate of loss has slowed in recent years.

Causes

The main reason forests are cut down is for farming. Farms grow crops and raise animals, which needs a lot of land. Trees are removed to make space for these farms.

Trees are also cut for wood, fuel, and to clear land for crops and grazing. Other reasons include logging for wood products, building roads, and mining. Climate change can also cause wildfires that destroy forests. These changes remove trees and affect the environment and wildlife that live in forests.

Impacts

Deforestation affects the atmosphere and climate. It is a major cause of climate change because it adds more carbon dioxide to the air. When forests are cut down or burned, the carbon stored in the trees is released, making the greenhouse effect stronger. This warms the planet, especially in tropical areas.

Deforestation changes the water cycle. Trees keep the land wet by taking water from the ground and putting it into the air. Without trees, the land becomes drier, and soil can wash away more easily. This can cause problems like flooding and less water. Forests help keep water levels balanced, and losing them can change weather patterns and increase the risk of droughts.

Deforestation harms biodiversity. Forests are homes to many plants and animals, and cutting them down takes away the places these species need to live. This loss can affect the medicines we develop and the balance of nature. Deforestation can also increase the spread of diseases by bringing humans closer to wildlife.

Monitoring

Scientists use different ways to watch and measure deforestation. One way is to look at pictures taken from airplanes or satellites. This can take a lot of work but doesn’t need special computer skills. Another method is to study areas where forests are changing quickly with detailed satellite images.

Satellites are very important for learning about how much forest is being lost or grown back. For example, data from the Landsat satellite has helped create maps showing deforestation in places like the Amazon Basin, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia. Organizations like Greenpeace and the World Resources Institute also share maps showing how forests have changed over time.

Control

Further information: Sustainable development and Universal basic income in Brazil

Countries around the world have made rules to protect forests. These rules teach people why forests are important, find ways to earn money without harming forests, and give forest workers the tools they need. Forests are sometimes cut down because people need land for farming or because they are poor. Leaders can help by making sure using forests matches their value for cleaning the air and fighting climate change.

Some countries promised to stop cutting down forests. In 2014, many countries agreed to cut deforestation in half by 2020 and stop it completely by 2030, but this didn’t work well. In 2021, more countries joined together, including big forest owners like Brazil, to try again to stop and reverse deforestation by 2030. This group also promised money to help achieve these goals.

Indigenous communities, who live in forests, often protect them very well. Giving these communities rights to the land they live on can help save forests. For example, in Brazil, forests protected by Indigenous groups have less cutting than national parks.

Some places use “slash-and-burn” farming, which quickly clears forests and hurts soil. Switching to “slash-and-char” can help save forests and improve soil. This creates biochar, a type of charcoal that helps soil stay healthy and captures carbon from the air.

Certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council help make sure wood comes from forests that are managed carefully. Agreements, like Brazil’s rule that big companies won’t buy soy from deforested areas, have also helped lower deforestation.

Main article: Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

One way to fight climate change is by paying countries to keep their forests. This idea, called REDD, gives money to places that agree to limit or stop cutting down trees. Big organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank are working on these programs. They use satellites and other tools to watch and make sure countries are keeping their promises.

History

Further information: Timeline of environmental history

Forests have changed a lot over many years. Long ago, huge rainforests covered the Earth. Climate changes made these forests disappear, which changed many plants and animals.

Humans have cut down forests for a very long time. Early people used fire to open up forests for hunting animals like red deer and wild boar. When farming began, people cleared forests to grow crops. In places like ancient Greece and Minoan Crete, deforestation caused soil erosion and other problems.

As civilizations grew, forests kept disappearing. For example, in Easter Island, the loss of trees brought big changes to the island's society. In Europe, the need for wood for ships and other uses led to more deforestation. Over time, people have tried to manage forests better, but the need to clear land for farming has continued.

Society and culture

Different cultures have their own ideas about cutting down trees. For example, in the stories and traditions of the people in Manipur, a place in India, people believe that cutting down too many trees makes mother nature sad. They think she feels sad because she loses something important.