ABSTRACT
Deforestation is the human-driven process of replacing forest ecosystems with non-forested land covers. Trees are the essential unit of forests, but forests are habitats for diverse flora and fauna—from soil micro-organisms to insects and large predators. Deforestation results in the loss of most, to nearly all, of the biodiversity and associated ecosystem goods and services. Forests help dampen the effects of natural disasters. The factors contributing to deforestation are complex and have varied across Latin America and over time. Conversion of forest land to large-scale agriculture is currently the predominant cause of deforestation in Latin America. Deforestation is not an irreversible process, as forests may return through human aid or as a result of natural succession. High rates of deforestation will likely continue until the accepted value of a forest in a sustainable condition is greater than the value of alternative land uses or its products.
