Deforestation is the large-scale, often permanent removal of forest cover, typically through logging, burning, or land conversion for agriculture, infrastructure, or resource extraction, resulting in the reduction or fragmentation of forest ecosystems. As a research topic, it encompasses quantifying forest loss using remote sensing and geospatial analysis, assessing impacts on carbon stocks, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, hydrological cycles, and soil integrity, and examining social-ecological drivers such as governance, commodity markets, and land-use policies. Deforestation studies also investigate feedbacks to climate systems, resilience thresholds, and the effectiveness of interventions including protected areas, certification schemes, and zero-deforestation supply-chain commitments.
Deforestation is a major problem across Africa. It is widely recognized that deforestation harms biodiversity, but tree loss also harms dietary quality, as nutritious fruits, nuts, seeds and leaves disappear from the landscape. ...
Ecology
Jun 23, 2026
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The Australian government has agreed to invest almost $53 million in a north Tasmanian company that will upgrade its coal-fired kiln to burn wood "waste" and used tires for cement manufacturing.
Environment
Jun 19, 2026
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Larger areas contain more species. This is one of the most ironclad laws of ecology, which explains why large natural areas usually receive higher priority in conservation strategies. In fragmented landscapes, this logic ...
Ecology
Jun 19, 2026
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The U.K. could face significant challenges if it follows the European Union's lead and introduces tougher restrictions on imports linked to deforestation, according to new research from The University of Manchester. The study ...
Ecology
Jun 19, 2026
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Oils from crops such as coconut, palm oil and soybean are used in a range of applications, from cosmetics and makeup to margarine and spreads, and from medicines to animal feed. These oil crops, as they are known, are increasingly ...
Ecology
Jun 19, 2026
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220
The EU must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 relative to 1990—of which 5 percentage points can be achieved through climate action elsewhere, according to the 2025 law. A study by the Potsdam Institute for ...
Environment
Jun 16, 2026
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In 2025, the area deforested in the country fell below 1 million hectares in a year for the first time since 2019. A total of 984,794 hectares of native vegetation were cleared during 2025, a reduction of 20.6% compared with ...
Environment
Jun 11, 2026
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As conservationists seek to maintain biodiversity levels in tropical coffee landscapes, data indicate the presence and quality of surrounding forest habitat may play a larger role than previously thought. New research from ...
Ecology
Jun 10, 2026
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A new study led by Concordia researchers suggests that carefully habituating wild gorillas to nonthreatening humans can help the animals overcome long-term aversions to people in areas with a history of human-led disturbances ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 10, 2026
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19
While many people tacitly appreciate the intrinsic and aesthetic value forests and trees provide, governments and policymakers have struggled to take firm action to protect Earth's forests.
Environment
Jun 10, 2026
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