Deforestation
 
DEFORESTATION
  • Livestock raising is one of the main drivers of deforestation.4 (UN FAO, 2006)
  • Since the 1990s approximately 90% of Amazonian deforestation has been due to clearing land for grazing cattle or growing feed for livestock.5
  • In Australia, 91% of all tree clearing over a 20-year period has been done for livestock grazing.6 (recent report on a 20-year study commissioned by the Queensland government by Mr. Gerald Bisshop, retired principal scientist of the Queensland Department of Environment and Resources Management)
DESERTIFICATION
  • Desertification is caused by overgrazing and expansion of livestock crop-rowing areas.7 (TPN3 Rangeland Management in Arid Areas including the fixation of sand dunes, UNCCD, 2003)
  • Over 50% of the world’s soil erosion is caused by livestock, which leads to desertification.8
  • Some 75 billion tons of topsoil are being eroded annually due to agricultural mismanagement, climate change, and livestock grazing. In the United States alone, 54% of pasture land is overgrazed, with more than 100 tons of topsoil lost per hectare per year.9 (A study presented by Professor John Crawford at the recent Carbon Farming Conference held in New South Wales, Australia)
  • In 2010, Iraq, China, Chad, Australia, and Mongolia, among others, reported serious drought, with livestock grazing making conditions worse.

 Reference
Latest News
Mangroves store significantly more carbon than other forests. - 16 May 2011
The cultivation of the amazing Moringa tree is encouraged in Sierra Leone. - 3 Apr 2011
Climate change portends grim future for forests. - 13 Mar 2011
Schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan plant one million saplings. - 22 Feb 2011
UK government forsakes plans to sell public forest. - 20 Feb 2011
Historical reforestation created planetary cooling. - 17 Feb 2011
Ancient peat land forests destroyed for palm oil. - 16 Feb 2011
Destruction of the legendary Amazon rainforest continues. - 12 Feb 2011
Billions of trees in the Amazon dying because of drought. - 5 Feb 2011
Amazon forests approach tipping point. - 23 Dec 2010
Africa losing forests at alarming rate. - 1 Dec 2010
Agriculture is a major driver of tropical deforestation - 13 Sep 2010
Prince Charles calls for an expanse of trees the size of the nation - 10 Sep 2010
Australian deforestation driven by livestock grazing - 15 Jul 2010
“Avatar” film stars and celebrities urge students to be eco heroes. - 30 Apr 2010
more  
30
India allocates fund for forest conservation - 5 Aug 2009
29
Prince Charles contributes to Rainforest preservation - 1 Aug 2009
28
Farmers reforest the Philippines - 8 Jul 2009
27
Macedonians plant 5 million trees in one-day reforestation campaign - 18 Mar 2009
26
Amazon could shrink by 85% due to climate change, scientists say - 14 Mar 2009
25
Deforestation in Brazil's Atlantic forest reaches 793 hectares - 24 Dec 2008
24
Forests May Play Overlooked Role In Regulating Climate - 3 Dec 2008
23
Desertification: 35 million affected in the north of Nigeria. - 2 Dec 2008
22
Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has increased. - 30 Nov 2008
21
Presidential decree protects Brazil rain forest - 28 Nov 2008
20
Macedonians plant 6 million trees in single day - 26 Nov 2008
19
US$8.6 million in new funds for tropical forests - 18 Nov 2008
18
Legal battle over forest is victory for Paraguayan Indians - 16 Nov 2008
17
Primates are more threatened than expected.- 15 Sep 2008
16
Deforestation linked to rise in mosquito-borne diseases. - 11 Sep 2008
15
Amazon deforestation increases 69 percent due to demand for meat. - 1 Sep 2008
14
Biodiversity loss harms humans, too. - 23 Jun 2008
13
Greenpeace - Destruction of Amazonian Jungle to produce meat - 10 Jun 2008
12
Deforestation must stop to curb CO2 emissions - 3 Jun 2008
11
Vietnam’s south central coast risks becoming deserts - 28 May 2008
10
Meat production continues to be the leading driver of deforestation in Brazil. - 16 May 2008
9
Climate change impacts Âu Lạc (Vietnam). - 29 Apr 2008
8
At current rates of deforestation, Nigeria may lose all her forests. -31 Mar 2008
7
Half the Amazon rainforest will be lost within 20 years - 1 May 2008
6
Indonesia forest loss killing climate, endangered animals - 1 Mar 2008
5
Deforestation May Make Humans More Vulnerable To Infection - 14 Feb 2008
4
Catholic bishop blasts Brazil on Amazon destruction - 9 Feb 2008
3
World fells trees at ‘alarming’ rate, experts say - 06 Feb 2008
2
Prince Charles's wish: to save rainforests - 06 Feb 2008
1
Preserving a Planetary Protector - the Rainforest - with a Vegetarian Diet