The rapid conversion of tropical forests is an important contributor to the emissions of greenhouse gases, second only to the combustion of fossil fuels. Soil emissions play an important role during and after the conversion next to the direct contribution to trace gas emissions by burning of vegetation. The rate of deforestation is strongly tied to population growth and economic development. The Integrated Model for the Assessment of the Greenhouse Effect (IMAGE) has been developed as a policy tool to evaluate the climate impact of different global developments. Within the carbon cycle module of this model deforestation has been simulated as a function of food production, livestock development, commercial wood production and other factors. The authors find that survival of tropical forests is unlikely unless a dramatic productivity increase in agriculture and forestry or limitation of population growth can be achieved within the coming decades. Land expansion should take place according to land suitability and fuelwood from plantations could be used efficiently as a replacement of fossil fuels.
913 (Beziehungen zwischen Wald und landwirtschaftlich genutzten Flächen (Acker, Wiese, Weide usw.). Waldrodungen; Aufforstungen von landwirtschaftlichen Flächen; Wechselwirtschaft, wandernde Waldfeldwirtschaft. (Politik); Landnutzung [Siehe auch UDC 332.3 Landnutzung und Unterteilung für Querverweise und auch UDC 711.4 Landnutzung; UDC 712.2 Landschaftsplanung im allgemeinen]) [213] (Heisse, tropische und subtropische Zonen) 111.15 (Atmosphärische Bildungen und Störungen. Veränderungen. [gleichlaufend wie UDK 551.5 zu unterteilen])
