Impacts of conversion of forests for agriculture and plantation

Why can forest conversion be a problem?

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 16 million ha of natural forest were lost to forest plantations and other land uses between 1990-2000 (that's more than 1.5 times the size of Iceland).

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What do we mean by forest conversion? Why is it happening? And why should you care? Find out here
Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus), portrait. Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh, Indonesia. © WWF-Canon / Peter HOFLAND Intensive cultivation of Soybeans etc. using rotary irrigation system, near Brasilia. Upper Tocantins Basin Management, part of one of the WWF Freshwater projects sponsored by HSBC. Goias State, Brazil. © WWF-Canon / Edward PARKER Soil erosion caused by forest-clearing of forest. Gabon, Central Africa. © WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions Declining groundwater supplies from irrigation Erosion, and siltation of coral reefs, rivers, and lakes
Migrants from Java have been settled since the 1980's. Oil palm trees (Elaesis guineensis) plantation nursery - spraying pesticides between rows of trees. Puntianal Area, near Bukit Tigapuluh, Sumatra, Indonesia. © WWF-Canon / Mark EDWARDS Soil. © Not credited yet 'The traditional way of life of Talang Mamak people is threatened by forest clearance for oil palm plantations. Rantaulangsat Village, Bukit Tigapuluh, Sumatra Indonesia. © WWF-Canon / Mark EDWARDS
Soil, water, and pollution from agrochemical use Loss of soil fertility Social problems, including resettlement and forced labour
Source
FAO. 2001. Global Forest Resources. Assessment 2000. FAO Forestry Paper 140. 511 pp.

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