Deforestation and Agriculture Lesson 73
Practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals. Agriculture
Farms In 2012, the United States had 2.1 million farms 915 million acres
Popular crops Around the world, forests are giving way to plantations for oil palm, soy, coffee, tea, and rice among many other crops.
What is causing forest conversion? 1. Rising demand 2. Cheap land, labor, and government subsidies 3. Poorly implemented environmental regulations 4. Global trade arrangements and trade barriers
Deforestation Consequences loss of biodiversity increases greenhouse gas emissions disrupts the water cycle increases soil erosion decreases the natural beauty of an area.