Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest are lost each year, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Deforestation occurs around the world, though tropical rainforests are particularly targeted.

Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of