What are the socio-economic factors driving the exploitation of rainforests?

Question

What are the socio-economic factors driving the exploitation of rainforests?

Answer 1

wanting more land , forest no more, green earth day , take care of it

Answer 2

I would say over-population in the tropical regions of the planet is the main driving force.  More people need more land for living and for farming, so the rain forests are chopped down to accommodate them.

To a lesser degree it would be large multinational corporations who want to use the trees for lumber and the land for mining, oil drilling, etc.

Answer 3

GREED.  It's this simple.

Answer 4

1. Consumers that do not insist that their paper products (paper towels,

magazines, etc.) come from recycled paper or sustainable trees, and

2. Heavy-breeding theocrats that are driving the overpopulation problem.

Answer 5

The reality is different than the previous answers in my opinion.  Humans have been exploiting the environment as do all other animals.  It would sound silly to say why does a beaver exploit the forests but since so many humans are self loathing, this sort of language is typical and I doubt if any beavers are loosing any sleep over thier exploits.  Over-exploitation of rain forest is due primarily to poor farmers who don't own the land so have very little incentive to take care of it.  The peasant farmers strip and burn a few acres, grow crops, and move on.  Politicians, fearing revolts don't dare do anything to solve the problem.  Large corporations can offer politicians great sums of money to cut down large swaths of forests and this short term gain is ofter difficult to resist.  They take the short term gain instead of looking out for the long term health and sustainability.  It is mostly due to lack of ownership and poverty in my opinion.