Final answer:
Deforestation is primarily caused by large-scale agriculture, driven by global demand for various commodities. Industrial developments indirectly lead to deforestation by building infrastructure that opens up previously remote areas. Past developmental policies and the immediate needs of populations for firewood and building materials in developing countries also contribute.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ultimate Causes of Deforestation
The ultimate (root) causes of deforestation largely stem from human activities. In recent years, particularly in tropical regions, large-scale agricultural operations by corporations and wealthy landowners have emerged as a primary factor. This trend is driven by the demand for grains, edible oils, and biofuels, alongside rising standards of living in developing countries. For instance, the Brazilian Amazon has seen a significant increase in cattle ranching and soy farming, with cattle numbers rising from 22 to 74 million since 1990.
Industrial activities such as logging, mining, and petroleum development, while not directly cutting down forests, contribute indirectly by facilitating access to remote areas through road-building. These infrastructures bring in colonists, hunters, and miners who can cause substantial and swift forest disruption, leading to cycles of land speculation and further deforestation.
A historical perspective shows that prior to the late 1980s, deforestation was often a result of developmental policies in rural areas of developing nations, such as agricultural loans and road construction. These facilitated mass migrations to forest frontiers, resulting in widespread deforestation. While the rate of rural population growth has slowed down due to urbanization, the demands of a growing urban population, particularly in the Global South, have led to agricultural expansion and continued deforestation for city sprawl.
Another issue is that in developing countries, the reliance on trees for subsistence—such as firewood or building materials—remains high, and with increasing population pressures, deforestation continues due to these immediate needs. Soil erosion is also a byproduct of deforestation in tropical areas, which hampers the ability of forests to recover once they are cut down.