The Root of the Problem

The report identifies a shift in tropical deforestation from state-initiated to enterprise-driven processes, primarily fueled by global urban and export demand for commodities like beef, soy, palm oil, and timber. While drivers vary by region—cattle and soy in Latin America, palm oil and timber in Southeast Asia, and small-scale farming in Africa—the document highlights that global emissions from land-use change have declined by 39% between 2000 and 2009. It argues that development without deforestation is possible through agricultural intensification, the restoration of abandoned lands, and international mechanisms like REDD+.

• Tropical deforestation and forest degradation are significant contributors to climate change, accounting for approximately 15 percent of global warming pollution.
• The primary drivers of deforestation have shifted from government-led colonization to 'enterprise-driven' processes led by corporations responding to global urban and export markets.
• Drivers of deforestation are regionally distinct: beef cattle and soybeans are the primary agents in Latin America, while palm oil and timber dominate in Southeast Asia.
• In Brazil, cattle pasture is the leading cause of deforestation, occupying more than 75% of deforested areas, often characterized by low productivity and extensive land use.
• The soybean industry in the Brazilian Amazon saw a significant reduction in its role as a deforestation driver following a 2006 voluntary moratorium on buying soy from deforested areas.
• Palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia is a disproportionate source of emissions because plantations are frequently established on carbon-rich peat soils, which release carbon dioxide and methane when drained.
• Contrary to common beliefs, firewood collection is generally not a major driver of deforestation, as it mostly involves dead wood; however, charcoal production can cause significant local degradation, especially in Africa.
• Small-scale farming and shifting cultivation are no longer the primary drivers of deforestation in the most affected tropical regions, though they remain more significant in Africa.
• Global emissions from land-use change decreased by 39% between 2000 and 2009, falling from a 20th-century average of 5.32 billion tons of CO2 per year to 3.23 billion tons in 2009.
• Brazil achieved a 67% reduction in its deforestation rate between 2005 and 2010 through a combination of enforcement, expanded protected areas, indigenous land recognition, and the Amazon Fund supported by Norway.
• The 'forest transition' describes a development path where a country initially loses forest cover but eventually reaches a point where reforestation and recovery occur.
• Development without deforestation can be achieved by intensifying agricultural production on existing lands, restoring abandoned agricultural lands, and utilizing REDD+ and Payment for Environmental Services (PES) programs.

APA

Boucher, D., Elias, P., Lininger, K., May-Tobin, C., Roquemore, S., & Saxon, E. (2011). The Root of the Problem. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_RootoftheProblem_DriversofDeforestation_FullReport.pdf

Chicago

Boucher, Doug, Pipa Elias, Katherine Lininger, Calen May-Tobin, Sarah Roquemore, and Earl Saxon. The Root of the Problem. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2011. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_RootoftheProblem_DriversofDeforestation_FullReport.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boucher |first1=Doug |last2=Elias |first2=Pipa |last3=Lininger |first3=Katherine |last4=May-Tobin |first4=Calen |last5=Roquemore |first5=Sarah |last6=Saxon |first6=Earl |title=The Root of the Problem |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=June 2011 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_RootoftheProblem_DriversofDeforestation_FullReport.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boucher2011root, author = {Boucher, Doug and Elias, Pipa and Lininger, Katherine and May-Tobin, Calen and Roquemore, Sarah and Saxon, Earl}, title = {{The Root of the Problem}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2011}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS_RootoftheProblem_DriversofDeforestation_FullReport.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }