Forests are cleared all around the world for a number of reasons, the main ones being:
- Harvesting of timber to produce wood and paper products;
- Clearing land for farms and cash-crop plantations, and cattle ranching;
- Clearing land for urban development, including homes, roads and hydroelectric
dams; and
- Harvesting of timber for fuel wood.
Forests are also being destroyed by acid rain from our pollution-causing activities and through introductions of disease, insects and fungi.
