Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests. People cut trees for timber, clear land for farming, and build roads and mines. The tropics lose the most. Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo account for a large share of global forest loss. Some clearing is legal. Much is not.

The consequences are severe. Forests absorb carbon dioxide. When they burn or rot, they release it. Deforestation accounts for roughly 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. It also destroys habitat. Most land species live in forests. Clearing pushes them toward extinction. It disrupts rainfall patterns, causes erosion, and displaces indigenous communities.

Slowing deforestation is possible. Satellite monitoring catches illegal clearing in near real time. Certification schemes reward sustainable timber and palm oil. Payments for ecosystem services compensate landowners for keeping forests standing. Brazil reduced Amazon deforestation by 80 percent between 2004 and 2012 through a mix of enforcement and market pressure. The gains have since reversed. The fight continues.

Main drivers

• Agricultural expansion
• Timber and pulp
• Mining
• Infrastructure and roads
• Fires and land clearing