Myth vs Reality: Causes of Deforestation

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This brief segment addresses the misconception that logging is the primary cause of deforestation. 

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with the NASA Earth Observatory.

Video design and production by STScI
Text by STScI, based on stories from the NASA Earth Observatory: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ 
Music courtesy of APM

(SPEECH)
[UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]
 
(DESCRIPTION)
A blue hexagon appears in the middle of a gray background split into two halves by a line. A banner is outlined in light blue for the title, Myth vs Reality. An illustration with sea serpents surrounding a ship is above Myth. A satellite view of the Earth is above reality. A dark, rotating planet floats in the background at the bottom. The Myth side is highlighted. Text, Logging is the primary cause of deforestation.
 
The reality side is highlighted. Text, Logging does contribute to deforestation in many countries. However, the leading cause of deforestation in the world today is agriculture, converting forest land into cropland and pasture.