• Agricultural expansion: As the human population grows, so does the demand for food. This leads to forests being cleared for farmland to grow crops like soy and palm oil and to create pastures for grazing livestock. This is particularly prevalent in tropical regions, such as the Amazon rainforest, where cattle ranching is the leading cause of forest destruction.
  • Logging: Trees are a valuable resource, and the logging industry cuts down vast quantities for wood, paper, and furniture. Both legal and illegal logging operations contribute significantly to global deforestation.
  • Urbanization and infrastructure: As cities expand, forests are removed to make way for new housing, roads, dams, and other developments. This development can also fragment forest habitats, disrupting ecosystems.
  • Mining: The extraction of minerals, oil, and gas from beneath forest lands requires clearing large areas. This can have significant indirect impacts, such as building new roads to access remote forest locations.
  • Fuelwood: In many developing countries, wood is a primary source of fuel for heating and cooking. This heavy reliance on wood can lead to high rates of forest loss and degradation.