Deforestation
Timber Companies Have the Opportunity to Protect Forests Long Term
The majority of logging companies, however, fail to protect their lands from unsustainable clear-felling practices and even fewer have systems to monitor and ensure such policies.
The Killing of an Indigenous Leader in Brazil Is Part of a Global Trend of Attacks on Environmentalists
In 2018, more than 160 land and environmental defenders were killed—many of them Indigenous.
Papua New Guinea's Road Expansion Plan Would Escalate Deforestation
In a new paper, a team of scientists cautions that plans to add more than 3,700 miles of roads in the next few years could seriously endanger biological wealth.
Deforestation in Colombia Finally Dips Three Years After FARC Peace Deal
The country's historic 2016 peace deal with former FARC guerrillas closed a chapter on a half-century of armed conflict but also caused rapidly accelerating forest loss in remote regions of the country.
Tree-Planting Efforts Could Curb Humanity's Carbon Emissions
The need to restore forest, both to protect biodiversity and to stabilize the climate, is urgent, experts say.
How the End of Civil Conflicts Can Lead to Increased Deforestation
A new study found the loss of forest cover significantly increased in four countries that recently declared peace after years of war.
Why More Roads in the Congo Basin Could Lead to Increased Deforestation
The construction of logging roads in the region has doubled over the past 15 years, and researchers warn that this increase could have serious environmental ramifications.
A New Study Finds That Cutting Down One Forest Can Make Neighboring Forests Hotter
These temperature rises can also lead to local extinction of the native species living in those regions.
In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro's Government Is Gutting Environmental Agencies From the Inside
Fines for illegal deforestation were down 34 percent from January 1st to May 15th this year compared to the same period last year—the largest drop ever recorded.
How China's Growing Soy Demand Is Fueling Brazilian Deforestation
Globally, 80 percent of forest loss stems from turning over forest for agriculture to grow food for livestock and human consumption.
In Spite of Environmental Concerns, Europe Continues to Buy Brazilian Beef
A new report reveals the major European supermarkets that are potentially fueling illegal deforestation when they support the Brazilian cattle industry.
A New Report Urges the E.U. to Take Economic Action to Curb Amazon Deforestation
Environmental groups argue that Europe should use trade leverage to prevent the Brazilian government from furthering the destruction of the rainforest.
Madagascar's Rich Natural Heritage Is Hanging on a Knife's Edge, Experts Warn
The country's president has a poor environmental record, raising concerns over the preservation of Madagascar's iconic biodiversity.
Clearcutting Forests Means Less Clean Water
A recent study in Malawi found that deforestation can reduce access to safe drinking water.
The Key to Stopping Deforestation May Lie in Reducing Inequality
New research has found that higher levels of inequality lead to more deforestation, whereas better equality leads to better forest protections.
Can France Help Lead E.U. Efforts to Curb Global Deforestation?
France's new strategy to stop importing "unsustainable forest and agricultural products" is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle for the European Union.
How Small-Scale Gold Mining Is Devastating the Peruvian Amazon
Small-scale gold mining has led to the destruction of more than 170,000 acres of primary rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon over the past five years, according to new research.
The Continued Clearing of Rainforests Spells Disaster for Curbing Climate Change
The countries with the richest swaths of rainforest are still cutting them down, undermining one of the best available solutions to staving off climate change impacts.
How a New Provision in Brazil's Forest Act Could Cost It a Massive Chunk of Protected Rainforest
Researchers warn that an area of Brazilian Amazon rainforest bigger than Ireland is at risk of losing its legal protection.
If Current Deforestation Rates Continue, Haiti May Lose Its Forests Within Two Decades
Haiti's deforestation is largely driven by small-scale farming and charcoal production, which involves harvesting wood and heating it to remove water and volatile compounds.
Tropical Deforestation Is the Third-Biggest Carbon Emitter in the World
According to a new analysis, tropical forest loss currently accounts for 8 percent of the world's annual carbon dioxide emissions.
South American Jaguars Are Losing Critical Habitat Due to Agricultural Deforestation
This has led to over-hunting and persecution by cattle ranchers becoming even bigger threats to the survival of the big cat.
Despite Promises, Major Brands Continue to Obtain Palm Oil From Rainforest Destroyers
A new report from Greenpeace shows that brands and their suppliers are not abiding by their own pledges to only buy from sustainable producers of palm oil.
A New Study Reveals Global Drivers of Deforestation
Commodity-driven deforestation is most responsible, with farming and forestry also playing a major role in the global tree cover loss.