According to the World Forestry State report published by FAO, the expansion of agriculture caused nearly 80% of global deforestation. This phenomenon is remarkably strong in South America, Africa, and Asia.
The construction of infrastructures like roads or dams, together with mining activities and urbanization, make up the remaining 20%. (10% of deforestation happens because of infrastructure constructions, 5-10% is due to mining activities, around 5% of deforestation happens due to urbanization)
In fact, forests represent some of the most veritable hubs of biodiversity. From mammals to birds, insects, amphibians or plants, the forest is home to many rare and fragile species.
80% of the Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests. By destroying the natural environments that surround forests, human activities are putting these species at danger and it can have significant consequences on natural balances. The gradual reduction of orangutans in Borneo’s rainforests is an example of the severe impact of deforestation on forest species. We have already lost nearly 150,000 orangutans in the past 16 years due to habitat loss and killing, and if we don't take actions to protect the forest, we are to lose another 45,000 by 2050, according to a new paper in the journal Current Biology.
Deforestation also has a very strong contribution to climate change.
Why? Let’s remember that trees absorb and store CO2 throughout their lives. Destruction of tropical forests across the globe releases more carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere than the entire European Union. If deforestation were a country, it would be the third largest CO2 emitter in the world after China and the US.
