Page 9 - Environmental_Climat change

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2.2 Causes of deforestation

The main causes of deforestation:

• Agriculture - one of the main factors contributing to deforestation is agricultural activity. This is due to
the high demand for food, which is why more and more space is being used for growing crops and grazing
cattle.

• Logging - trees are used in the wood and paper industry, to make matches, furniture, etc. Wood is also
used to produce firewood. Many industries are developing through illegal logging and felling.

• Urbanization - to access the forests, roads are built; here too, trees are chopped up to create roads.
Overpopulation is a factor that affects deforestation. Population growth results in greater demand for land,
because people need it to build houses, settlements and so on.

• Deserification of land - this process occurs partly naturally. The earth that is over-exploited is not suita-
ble for tree growth. Many companies and factories throw their waste into rivers, which causes soil erosion,
making it unfit for plant and tree cultivation.

• Mining - oil and coal mining requires a significant amount of forest land. This waste pollutes the
environment and affects nearby plant and tree species.

• Forest fires - Fires in the forest cause the extinction of tree species in different parts of the world. The
reason for the fires is a warm summer and milder winter. Fires cause enormous damage to the forest and
the environment, both to man and nature.

Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/19089/number-of-wildfires-recorded-in-brazils-amazon-rainfo-
rest/