← HumanConsumption.Live Trees Cut for Food
trees cleared globally
Consumption Rates
Based on an annual estimate of approximately 3,500,000,000, derived from Global Forest Watch.
2,185,192,153
so far this year (est.)
Billions of trees are cut annually to clear land for agriculture, particularly cattle ranching and soy/palm plantations. This deforestation has severe climate and biodiversity impacts.
Consumption by Region
Key Statistics
Annual deforestation
~10 million hectares
Agriculture share
~80%
Of deforestation
Amazon deforestation
~17%
Already lost
Cattle ranching
#1 driver
Of deforestation
Soy expansion
Major driver
For animal feed
Palm oil
~20 million hectares
Plantations
Carbon released
~4.8 billion tons/year
From deforestation
Species extinction
Accelerating
Due to habitat loss
Indonesia loss
~25%
Of forests since 1990
Brazil loss
~20%
Of Amazon
Illegal logging
~50%
In some regions
Replanting rate
Far below
Deforestation rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trees cut for food are trees cleared each year?
Based on annual estimates, approximately 3,500,000,000 trees cut for food are trees cleared globally each year.
How many trees cut for food are trees cleared per day?
Approximately 9,589,041 trees cut for food are trees cleared per day worldwide, based on an annual estimate of 3,500,000,000.
How many trees cut for food are trees cleared per second?
Approximately 110 trees cut for food are trees cleared per second — equivalent to 6,659 per minute and 399,543 per hour.
Which region accounts for the largest share of trees cut for food trees cleared?
South America accounts for approximately 40% of global trees cut for food trees cleared.
Context Beyond the Numbers
Approximately 80% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion, primarily for cattle ranching and feed crop production.
Cattle ranching is the single largest driver of deforestation globally, responsible for approximately 70% of Amazon forest loss.
Most soy grown on newly deforested land is used for animal feed, not for direct human consumption as tofu or soy milk.
Deforestation releases approximately 4.8 billion tons of CO₂ annually, making it a significant contributor to climate change.
Old-growth forests contain irreplaceable biodiversity and carbon stocks that cannot be recovered through reforestation within human timescales.
Approximately 50% of logging in some regions is illegal, yet the products often enter legal supply chains.
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