Wildlife

Tropical Forest Clearance and Wildlife Welfare

Tropical deforestation destroys the habitat of millions of animal species, causing population collapse and individual suffering during displacement and fragmentation.

Key Facts

Tropical forests are being cleared at approximately 10 million hectares per year globally
The Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asian forests contain over half of all terrestrial species
Forest clearance directly kills animals in their habitat through machinery and fire
Surviving animals are displaced into smaller fragments with increased human conflict risk
Palm oil, soy, beef, and timber drive the majority of tropical deforestation globally

Welfare Considerations

Forest clearance causes direct welfare harm to animals killed or displaced during operations. Burning and mechanical clearance kills slowly moving animals including insects, reptiles, and small mammals in place. Displaced animals face starvation, conflict, and eventual death in isolated fragments. Consumer choices reducing demand for deforestation-linked commodities directly reduce the scale of these welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Choose palm oil from RSPO-certified sustainable sources or palm-oil-free products
Reduce beef consumption, particularly beef from South American sources with deforestation links
Choose soy products from certified deforestation-free sources
Support organizations working to protect remaining tropical forest from clearance
Learn about the commodity-deforestation links and engage with corporate campaigns demanding deforestation-free supply chains