Forests provide shelter to animals and plants, protect water sources and help balance the world’s carbon dioxide levels. But when they’re cut down, the ecosystem is disrupted. Many species lose their homes, and the environment suffers from fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide, more erosion and less rainfall.

Direct causes of deforestation include agricultural expansion, wood extraction (for example, logging for paper and charcoal), mining, and infrastructure development such as road building and urbanization. Rarely does a single cause dominate: a combination of factors usually is at play.

For instance, expanding agriculture—particularly cattle ranching and soya and palm oil plantations—is responsible for most deforestation around the globe. These sectors are driven by global demand for animal products and a growing appetite for vegetable oils. Once a forest is cleared for these purposes, it’s often lost forever—including the plants and animals that once lived there.

When forests are razed, wildlife is displaced and forced to move into human settlements. This can lead to conflict and increased rates of poaching and other types of illegal hunting and trapping. It also puts animals at a higher risk of disease, loss of food resources and other environmental stressors. Additionally, the removal of trees removes the natural shade they provide, causing temperature fluctuations that can harm wildlife, especially in tropical forests. This is one of the main reasons that IFAW works to improve conditions for animals in the wild. We do this by advocating for improved forest management practices, working to secure legal protections for species, and promoting alternatives for farmers and communities that will save forests.