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

Artikel i övrig tidskrift, 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.