Why are the tropical rainforests of South America being depleted?
The underlying causes of deforestation in the tropical forests are poverty, inequitable land distribution, low agricultural productivity, inappropriate development, weak political institutions and rapid population expansion. Nearly half the rain forest area that is cleared is done by landless farmers for shifting cultivation. Clearing land for permanent agriculture and re-settlement programs is the second biggest cause of deforestation. Wood for heating and cooking by the world’s rural poor is the third.
