Agricultural commodity consumption and trade responsible for over 40% of tropical deforestation

Magazine article, 2015

Commercial agriculture and timber extraction play an important role in causing tropical deforestation. However, information is scarce on the extent to which production and trade of ‘forest-risk’ commodities like beef, soy, palm oil and wood products are actually driving tropical forest loss. In a recent study the authors of this Focali brief show that in the period 2000-2011, the production and trade of four commodities in just seven tropical countries was responsible for 40 percent of global tropical deforestation and associated carbon emissions.