Why do people cut down rainforests?

Question

Why do people cut down rainforests?

Answer 1

Money

Answer 2

People cut down rainforests for many reasons.

These can include;

- they want timber

- they need land for farming

- they need land to start building roads, cities etc.

These list is definitely not exhaustive - there are plenty more

Answer 3

Usually to convert the land into pasture for farming.  The soil is rich,a nd crops like sugarcane grow well in converted areas.  Also, they clear forests to make grazing space for cattle and other live stock.  And the wood is sold to industry.

In other words, to survive and to feed their families, same reason that we all go to work.  People need to eat.

Answer 4

People who repeatidly cut down trees and do not replant them really do not love anything. Now, cutting down a few trees that are ill is OK. And cutting down trees and replanting the same amount you cut down is OK. I hate seeing another Wal Mart going up where a small forest used to be. I hate seeing new subdivisions being built. Many years ago, when we built subdivisions and stores, we left all of the trees up-only cutting down the trees that were in the way. Now, when subdivisions and stores are built, every tree is torn down for no real reason. There should be a law saying that you should not cut down a tree if you have no reason. Here in Edwardsville, Illinois (just 20 miles outside of St. Louis, Missouri), a new road is being constructed called "Governors Parkway). It is halfway complete. The first half has been complete for 2 years, and it runs through a small tree nursery that was partially cut down to make way for the new road and a giant shopping center. The second half, which is almost done, runs through a huge strip of trees dividing several subdivsions. The tree line was probably several hundred feet wide and 3/4 mile long, now 80 percent of the trees are gone and the road is being put in. It will then destroy part of a fairly good sized lake, and then run into some farm land before connecting with an Interstate Highway. The city says that the road is vital, but it really is not. Also, the new shopping complex was not needed. What people need to realize is that they are being gluttonous about how many trees they need to cut down and they need to think twice before doing it. Cutting down trees is progress, but you need to replace them and try not to cut down too much. People cut down rainforests for lumber and to build dream houses.

Answer 5

There is a good deal of money from the old forest growth.  By the poor, logging is a good way to make a living with very little formal education required.

Even stateside, wood prices are very tempting.  My sister's family had a large old black cherry tree blow down in their yard, they were offered $1000 for it as wide cherry boards are quite expensive and not all that common.

Logging isn't directly the problem, the problem occurs when we don't replant and we slash large tracts open on fragile land  rather than selectively thinning and allowing the younger trees to grow and repeat the process.  The Amazonian rainforest is particularly susceptible because there isn't a very deep layer of topsoil.  Cut the trees for large farming and the soil erodes away leaving the land unusable for farming or replanting.

So to answer your question, people cut the rainforests to make a living through selling the lumber or for agriculture.

Answer 6

they cut down forests for timber, used for fuel, fires, to generate electricity, for building and infrastructure and paper

Answer 7

They cut them down for wood, and to make more space for buildings.