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  
60
Mangroves store significantly more carbon than other forests. - 16 May 2011
59
The cultivation of the amazing Moringa tree is encouraged in Sierra Leone. - 3 Apr 2011
58
Climate change portends grim future for forests. - 13 Mar 2011
57
Schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan plant one million saplings. - 22 Feb 2011
56
UK government forsakes plans to sell public forest. - 20 Feb 2011
55
Historical reforestation created planetary cooling. - 17 Feb 2011
54
Ancient peat land forests destroyed for palm oil. - 16 Feb 2011
53
Destruction of the legendary Amazon rainforest continues. - 12 Feb 2011
52
Billions of trees in the Amazon dying because of drought. - 5 Feb 2011
51
Amazon forests approach tipping point. - 23 Dec 2010
50
Africa losing forests at alarming rate. - 1 Dec 2010
49
Agriculture is a major driver of tropical deforestation - 13 Sep 2010
48
Prince Charles calls for an expanse of trees the size of the nation - 10 Sep 2010
47
Australian deforestation driven by livestock grazing - 15 Jul 2010
46
“Avatar” film stars and celebrities urge students to be eco heroes. - 30 Apr 2010
45
Warming climate causing drastic forest decline. - 4 Apr 2010
44
Rainforest nations commit to preservation. - 2 Mar 2010
43
Amazon Rainforest is close to tipping point. - 13 Feb 2010
42
Meat consumption drives rainforest destruction and global warming - 14 Jan 2010
41
Ethiopia's green hero to plant more trees - 7 Jan 2010
40
US pledges funds for forest conservation - 25 Nov 2010
39
Feeding palm oil to dairy cattle is driving Asian rainforest destruction - 30 Oct 2009
38
Rehabilitated rainforests support biodiversity - 29 Oct 2009
37
Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay make forest conservation pledge -27 Oct 2009
36
The fate of the world and her trees are in our hands - 21 Oct 2009
35
Prince Charles launches innovative campaign to save rainforests - 8 Oct 2009
34
Kenya to plant billions of trees - 30 Aug 2009
33
Stream and forest ecosystems endangered by climate change - 26 Aug 2009
32
Dairy industry adds to rainforest destruction - 25 Aug 2009
31
Ancient European forest suffers from climate change - 7 Aug 2009