It is caused by the largely growing demand for products and the conversion of 'forest to agriculture'. In 1750, 6-7% of cropland and pastureland occupied the Earth's surface; by 1990 it has increased to 35-39%. 13 million hectares, which is equivalent to the size of the country Portugal, is estimated to be lost each year due to deforestation. Deforestation is a particular concern in areas such as tropical rainforest due to the fact that they are home to much of the world's biodiversity. It is also a major contributor towards global warming as it distributes carbon in to the environment. .
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Causes.
Conversion to Agriculture.
Converting forests to agriculture plantations is one of the major causes of deforestation. As the human population grows, it is evident that more food must be produced. Furthermore, global demand for products such as soy and palm oils has increased causing producers to clear forests at dangerous and alarming rates. Of the 16 million square kilometers of forests the Earth once had, only 9 million square kilometers remain, with forests in the South East Asia are rapidly disappearing. The BBC has described the conversion of forests to agricultural plantations in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia is 'extremely intense'. Today, 44.7% of Indonesian workers are engaged in agricultural practices, with 31 million hectares devoted to cultivation and 35% of the land allocated towards exporting crops. .
Impacts.
Increase in Greenhouse Emission.
30% of the global greenhouse emission in contributed by the loss of forests, rivaling the emission of the transport division. The main priority of a forest is to help relocate the location of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission, however they become a source the carbon itself when they removed (cut, burn etc.). Forests contain over 210 gigatons of carbon, and when released into the environment, causes rising temperatures, change of water and weather patterns and increased frequency of natural disasters.
