The bar chart delineates the primary causes of deforestation in three global regions namely, South America, Southeast Asia and Central Africa comparing 1990-2000 and 2010- 2020 decades. The land affected is presented in percentages.
Overall, cattle ranching was the most predominant reason for deforestation in South America while commercial agriculture and Subsistence farming remained the drivers for lost forests in Southeast Asia and Central Africa.
In South America, cattle ranching was the most profound cause of deforestation causing 70% of lost forest cover. This was followed by Central Africa and Southeast Asia with 30% and 4% respectively.
Commercial Agriculture was the main driver for lost forests in Southeast Asia. This accounted for half of the loss which was quite significant compared to similar effects caused in South America at 15% and 10% in Central Africa. Notably, a considerable proportion of 40% of deforestation in Central africa resulted from subsistence farming which was significantly higher than South America’s 3% and Southeast Asia’s 12 %. In general, Southeast Asia and South America were severely affect by other causes that accounted for 10 of the lost green cover.