Across the globe, over 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. This includes indigenous and local communities that live near forest areas, as well as many slash and burn farmers who use timber for their homes and products, and loggers who harvest wood for everything from furniture to railroad sleepers.

Sadly, the logging of trees is a big reason why deforestation continues to accelerate. While there are some sustainable forestry practices in place, the majority of tree removal occurs for other reasons. The biggest cause is agriculture, with cattle ranching claiming the most forested land worldwide. In addition, people clear forests for crops like soybeans and palm oil to supply global food and cosmetics companies. Finally, mining operations and infrastructure projects also destroy forests at a fast rate.

One of the biggest impacts of deforestation is the loss of habitat for wildlife. Many animal species live in tropical rainforests, and their destruction threatens countless plant and animal species with extinction. The destruction of these habitats can also lead to conflict between wildlife and humans, and often leads to the deaths of both sides.

Deforestation is also a major driver of climate change. When we cut down or burn forests, they release huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide traps heat on the planet, which contributes to global warming. In addition, the loss of forests also impacts soil quality. As farmers remove forests to make way for agriculture, the remaining soil is eroded and leached of nutrients. This forces farmers to deforest even more land to grow their crops, and the cycle continues.