12 million hectares of forests are cleared annually. Most of the deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics. At this rate all moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050. Some countries such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka are likely to lose all their tropical forests by the year 2010 if no conservation steps are taken.

Conversion is an increasingly destructive practice whereby natural forests are chopped down to meet other land needs. In a forest the crowns of individual trees touch to form a single canopy. In a woodland, trees grow far apart, so that the canopy is open.12 million hectares of forests are estimated to be cleared annually. Most of the deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics.

At this rate all moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050. Some countries such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka are likely to lose all their tropical forests by the year 2010 if no conservation steps are taken. Agriculture is widely believed to be one of the main causes of deforestation. Around the world, forests are giving way to plantations for varieties of crops. Biofuels, a well known alternative to fossil fuels, are generated from oils extracted from oil palm etc. This of course create another concern as generally such crops are grown on land cleared of natural forests.

It can be realized on a careful observation that most of the consumer items modern man uses are directly or indirectly related to the use of woods, which in turn comes from deforestation. Some of the major causes of deforestation are

(i) Growing population and increased need for agriculture

(ii) development of cash crops and cattle ranching, both of which earn money for tropical countries

(iii) commercial logging (which supplies the world market with woods such as meranti, teak, mahogany and ebony) destroys trees as well as opening up forests for agriculture

(iv) felling of trees for firewood and building material; the heavy lopping of foliage for fodder; and heavy browsing of saplings by domestic animals like goats

(v) Poorly implemented environmental regulations. There are many other factors of regional importance also contribute to such deforestation.

(source: http://www.panda.org/index.cfm & http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za)