By Envrant
Deforestation is the permanent clearing or thinning of forests for agriculture, logging, and development, significantly impacting global climate and biodiversity.
Agricultural expansion is the biggest driver globally, especially cattle ranching, soy, and palm oil.
Commercial logging, timber supply, urban expansion, and mining also clear forests.
In 2024, fires drove record forest loss and produced about 4.1 gigatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Trees and soil hold carbon for long periods. When forests are cut or burned, much of that carbon is released as CO2.
Tropical primary forest loss reached 6.7 million hectares in 2024, the highest level in decades of monitoring.
Protect forests. Reduce land clearing. Stop illegal logging. Restore degraded land.