Question

Give any five causes of deforestation.

Answer 1

Answer:

Five Cause of Deforestation

1. Agricultural Expansion
2. Livestock Ranching
3. Logging
4. Infrastructure Expansion
5. Overpopulation

Explanation:

1. Agricultural Expansion

The conversion of forests into agricultural plantations is a major cause of deforestation.  The increase in global demand for commodities, such as palm oil and soybeans, are driving industrial-scale producers to clear forests at an alarming rate. Indonesia, the largest producer of palm oil, was named the “Fastest Forest Destroyer,” in the 2008 Guinness World Records. Even when efforts are made to replenish barren plantations, the depleted soil is not able to produce the same biodiversity it once was.

Solution 1: Plant a tree in your backyard, a community garden, or across the world.

2. Livestock Ranching

Forest clearing for livestock ranching is another contributor to deforestation. Since 1990, Brazil, a top exporter of beef, has lost an area of forest that is three-fourths the size of Texas. A strong global demand for beef, supported by governments such as in Brazil, is expanding this kind of deforestation.

Solution 2: We recommend downloading the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!  

3. Logging

Logging, including illegal logging, is a driver of deforestation. In Indonesia, illegal logging operations provide short-term income for people living on less than $1 a day. However, it destroys the livelihoods of those who depend on the forest. Indonesia is one of the largest exporters of timber, with about 80 percent of it being exported illegally.  It is estimated that organized criminals get between $10-15 billion dollars from illegal logging per year.

Solution 3: Go paperless.

4. Infrastructure Expansion

Road construction can lead to deforestation by providing an entryway to previously remote land. The 5,404-km Interoceanic Highway, which runs from Brazil to Peru, is a concern for conservationists as the road cuts a strip through the biodiverse Amazon rainforest. The road expansions often lead to logging and illegal logging, where opportunists slash down trees without permission from authorities. The cleared land then attracts an influx of settlers and disturbs the peace that once reigned in small villages.

Solution 4: Recycle and purchase recycled items.

5. Overpopulation

Our planet once housed an estimated maximum of 15 million people in prehistory. It now sustains a whopping 7 billion and counting. With overpopulation, there is an increase in global needs and wants, leading to expansion and deforestation. The planet’s forests are being devastated at an even rate with population growth.

Solution 5: Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance certification on products.