The Uncertain Future of Tropical Forests

Abstract

Tropical forests harbour most of the planet biodiversity, are home to indigenous people, sources of timber and pharmaceutical products, contribute to the regulation of the climate and provide an endless number of vital ecological services. However, they are at risk of disappearing. The causes of this rampant tropical deforestation are multiple and differ at the regional and national levels, being both endogenous and exogenous, as is discussed. The importance of tropical forests for preserving biological diversity and reducing global warming by sequestering CO₂ are also discussed. Finally, we assess the extent of deforestation and discuss its major drivers in some important regions of Africa, India and southeast Asia.