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What are the causes of deforestation?
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The primary causes of deforestation are agricultural expansion, logging for timber and fuel, urban expansion and infrastructure development,  and overgrazing.  2 Another major contributor to deforestation is the expansion of oil palm plantations in tropical areas such as Central America, South America, and parts of Southeast Asia. 3 Climate change and increasing levels of climate-related natural disasters, such as wildfires, are also contributing factors to deforestation. 4 Furthermore, unsustainable logging practices and illegal logging activities, such as smuggling and the clearance of rainforests for cattle ranching, can lead to deforestation.