Deforestation
causes and consequences
Deforestation refers to the large-scale destruction or degradation of forests, whether due to agriculture, logging, infrastructure development or urbanisation.
According to Global Forest Watch, between 2002 and 2024, there was a total loss of 16% of tree cover. The areas most affected are the Amazon, the Congo Basin, Indonesia and the entire Borneo-Mekong Basin, where exceptional biodiversity and significant human pressure are concentrated.
Understanding the causes and consequences of this phenomenon is an essential step towards taking action and preserving the global climate and ecological balance.
Agricultural expansion and livestock farming
Agriculture is now the leading cause of global deforestation. According to the FAO, contrary to popular belief, it is not only large industrial farms that are destroying forests: small-scale farming, which uses non-industrial methods and low-tech production processes, accounts for 68% of global agricultural deforestation.
- Soy, palm oil and cocoa crops occupy millions of hectares of converted forest land.
- Extensive cattle farming, particularly in Latin America, leads to the clearing of vast areas of pasture at the expense of the Amazonian forests.
Logging
Logging for timber, firewood or paper remains a major driver of deforestation. In countries such as Indonesia and Cameroon, illegal logging and international trade
are increasing pressure on rainforests, undermining ecosystems that are already under threat.
Infrastructure and mining
The construction of roads and dams, as well as urban expansion, fragments forests and opens up new areas for exploitation. Mining, whether for gold, bauxite or coltan, is also responsible for the loss of thousands of hectares of forest every year.
Indirect causes
In addition to these direct drivers, there are more structural factors:
- imported deforestation, linked to consumption in industrialised countries (soya, beef, palm oil, tropical timber);
- poverty and the lack of economic alternatives in rural areas;
- failing governance and land speculation, which encourage the unsustainable exploitation of resources..
Contribution to climate change
Forests are powerful carbon sinks. When they are destroyed, they release huge quantities of CO₂, accelerating global warming. Deforestation alone accounts for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This destruction also triggers feedback loops: increased drought, more frequent fires, and even more emissions.
Loss of biodiversity
Forests are home to nearly 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Their destruction directly threatens iconic species such as the Bornean orangutan, the Sumatran tiger and the lemurs of Madagascar. Habitat fragmentation reduces these species’ chances of survival and increases their risk of extinction.
Disruption of natural cycles
In the Amazon in particular, the loss of forest cover leads to a decrease in regional rainfall, affecting agriculture and water supplies. Deforestation also causes soil degradation: erosion, loss of nutrients and progressive desertification.
Les conséquences humaines de la déforestation
Increased vulnerability of local communities
Nearly 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for their livelihoods (food, firewood, medicinal plants). Their disappearance exacerbates poverty and undermines people’s means of survival, particularly in the face of an increase in natural disasters.
Forced displacement and conflict
Competition for arable land or mineral resources causes population displacement and fuels conflicts linked to land grabbing.
Threat to
health
Deforestation promotes the emergence of zoonoses (diseases transmitted from animals to humans). By destroying natural habitats, contact between wildlife and humans increases, as was observed with Ebola, for example.
Preserving forests: a necessity for the future
The importance of forests for global balance
Forests are indispensable: they absorb carbon, regulate water cycles and are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. They are also vital for
people, as they play a socio-economic role for over a billion human beings.
The key principles of conservation
Forest conservation is based on:
- the sustainable management of forest resources (certification, traceability, responsible supply chains);
- the protection of ecosystems of high ecological value;
- the involvement of local communities in the governance and development of their territory.
SEE ALL OUR PROJECTS
TO COMBAT DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE
How does Planète Urgence work to preserve forests?
Since 2000, Planète Urgence has been working through a regional and integrated approach that
combines three pillars: preserving, restoring and raising awareness..
Preserving
Our projects protect priority areas in key countries such as Benin, Madagascar, Cameroon, Peru and Indonesia.
Restore
We reforest and restore degraded ecosystems, such as the mangroves in Indonesia and Madagascar, which act as a bulwark against climate change.
Raise awareness
Through its educational programmes, Planète Éducation supports thousands of pupils to instil a culture of environmental conservation from a very young age.
What can I do on my own?
Everyone has the power to take action to curb deforestation:
- Reduce your consumption of products linked to deforestation
(uncertified palm oil, beef from high-risk areas, unsustainable soya) - Support an NGO such as Planète Urgence with a one-off or regular donation;
- Sign up for a volunteering mission to put your skills to work for local communities;
- Share information and take part in awareness-raising activities amongst your friends and family.