The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports that just four commodities are mostly responsible for the vast majority of tropical deforestation: beef, soy, palm oil and wood products. Palm oil is the most commonly produced vegetable oil and is found in half of all supermarket products . Some places are especially diverse — the tropical forests of New Guinea, for example, contain more than 6% of the world’s species of plants and animals. Deforestation in tropical regions can also affect the way water vapor forms over the canopy, which can reduce rainfall. Read more about the problems caused by deforestation according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Source: New York Times January 06, 2022 16:57 UTC