Classifying drivers of forest loss

Global maps of forest loss depict the scale and magnitude of forest disturbance, yet companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations need to distinguish permanent conversion, i.e. deforestation, from temporary loss from forestry or wildfire. Here we introduce a spatial attribution of forest disturbance to the dominant drivers of land cover and land use change over the period 2001 to 2015. Results indicate that 27% of global forest loss was deforestation through permanent land use change for commodity production. Remaining areas maintained the same land use over 15 years and loss was attributed to forestry (26%), shifting agriculture (24%), and wildfire (23%). Despite corporate commitments, the rate of commodity-driven deforestation has not declined. To end deforestation companies must eliminate 5 Mha/yr of conversion from supply chains.