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Causes Of Deforestation

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

Deforestation is the product of the interaction of the many environmental, social, economic, cultural, and political forces at work in any given region. The mix of these forces varies from decade to decade, and from country to country. As a consequence, generalizations are dangerous. In most cases, deforestation is a process that involves a competition amongst different land users for scarce resources, a process exacerbated by counter-productive policies and weak institutions. It creates wealth for some, causes hardships for others, and almost always brings serious consequences for the environment.

This section discusses four aspects of the causes of deforestation - the predisposing conditions, the direct causes, the indirect causes, and the role of forest exploitation and plantation development in the loss of natural forests. The predisposing conditions create an environment where deforestation can occur. The direct causes are the most visible, the most easily identified and are readily associated with the agents of deforestation. They are driven by the other less visible, socioeconomic forces -- the indirect causes.

Predisposing Conditions

Predisposing conditions are those factors which combine to create an environment where deforestation can occur. They are conditions created by society, at times intentionally and at times the consequence of human nature, that pervade all aspects of society and are not just related to land use. They are some of the most systemic, most difficult issues that frustrate human progress and sustainable development.

Without a doubt, one of the most important predisposing conditions that underlies tropical deforestation and many of the world's other problems related to achieving sustainable development is our growing population. Our numbers are currently growing at the rate of 1,000 million new individuals every decade. In the last half of the 20th century, we will have more than doubled our...