Agricultural drivers of deforestation

Deforestation is the clearing of forest, often so that the land can be used for another purpose. Agriculture can drive deforestation when land is cleared to rear animals or grow crops.

Large areas of tropical forest have been cleared to provide land for cattle rearing and rice fields. In each case, the forest is removed to make space for agricultural production.

Forest is also cleared to grow crops for biofuels. Biofuels are fuels made from biological material, including crops. Because those crops need land to grow, demand for biofuels can lead to forest being cleared for their production.