Deforestation is the large-scale clearing of forests. In tropical areas it has occurred to provide land for cattle and rice fields, and to grow crops for biofuels.
The environmental implications are serious:
- Biodiversity falls, because the trees provide habitats and food for many species, which die or have to move away.
- Less carbon dioxide is removed from the air by photosynthesis, because there are fewer trees.
- When trees are burned or decay, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which adds to global warming.
Cattle and rice fields also give off methane, a greenhouse gas. To evaluate deforestation you must weigh the need for food and fuel against these costs to the environment.