The Root of the Problem

The document identifies key drivers of tropical deforestation, noting that cattle and soy are primary drivers in Latin America, while palm oil and timber dominate in Southeast Asia. It highlights a shift in demand from rural to urban and export markets, driven by urbanization and global dietary trends toward meat. While Brazil has seen success in reducing deforestation through industry moratoria and REDD+ programs, the report warns that biofuel production could create new pressures on forests. Overall, tropical deforestation emissions have decreased by a third or more compared to the late twentieth century.

• The primary drivers of deforestation vary by region: beef cattle and soybeans are significant only in Latin America, whereas palm oil plantations are almost exclusively located in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Southeast Asia, the timber industry plays a critical role, often serving as a precursor to the establishment of pulpwood or palm oil plantations.
• In Brazil, pasture expansion for beef cattle is the leading cause of deforestation, accounting for more than 75% of the deforested area. While large-scale commercial soy production in the Amazon was a major driver in the 1990s, its impact has diminished significantly following a 2006 industry moratorium on buying soy from deforested areas.
• Palm oil expansion in Indonesia and Malaysia is a major source of global warming pollution because much of the expansion occurs in peat swamps, which contain high levels of soil carbon.
• Demographic shifts have changed the nature of deforestation; rural populations are declining in countries like Indonesia and Brazil, meaning demand is now primarily driven by urban and export markets. Globally, the shift toward meat-heavy diets has increased land requirements, though this trend is leveling off in developed nations.
• Global emissions from tropical deforestation have decreased by at least one-third compared to the levels seen in the final decades of the 20th century. Successes in Brazil are attributed to beef and soy moratoria, the creation of indigenous lands and protected areas, and Norway's support for the REDD+ program.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.). The Root of the Problem. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_DriversofDeforestation_ExecSummary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Root of the Problem. n.d. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_DriversofDeforestation_ExecSummary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Root of the Problem |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_DriversofDeforestation_ExecSummary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientistsndroot, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The Root of the Problem}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_DriversofDeforestation_ExecSummary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }