lion acres] of the Amazon forest disappeared last year" (Brazil- Still Chopping, 2000).
             Deforestation has a number of root causes, from agricultural purposes to increasing population. The most significant amount of deforestation is a direct result of agriculture and the need for food from the rising population. Most of the Brazilian Amazon forest, that stretched along the Atlantic coast was "hacked down to make room for plantations of sugar, coffee and other crops" as well as to make room for sprawling cities (Brazil- Still Chopping, 2000). Throughout history, as the natives moved through the forest, they began to clear small plots of land for cultivation and living. Once the land was no longer fertile, the fields were abandoned and the rainforest quickly grew back. As additional immigrants began to settle in the area, they too began to clear plots of land, much larger plots. It was not uncommon for "the new immigrants to clear 10 hectares, and only plant four or five" because of inadequate burning or the underestimation of weeding a large field (UNRISD, 14).
             Cattle ranching is another one of the highest reasons for deforestation. The UNRISD believes it to be the "main land use" in deforested areas of the Amazon (15). The ranchers cut and burn vast amounts of land for temporary pasture. After a short amount of time, a year or two at the most, the land is abandoned and another large area of the forest is cleared, repeating the cycle. Once the soil is too poor for farming or grazing, the ranchers move on. Due to the high price of chemical fertilizers, it is more
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