Deforestation is second only to fossil fuels as the cause of global warming—roughly 20-30% of global warming pollution is due to deforestation and related changes in land use. These emissions come directly from burning of forests and scrub (done to clear the land), and also from the decay of organic matter, both on the surface and from soil that is tilled for agriculture.

Tropical Deforestation and Climate Change is a book length report produced by the Amazon Institute of Environmental Research and Environmental Defense.