Deforestation is the act of clearing or destroying a portion of forested land. Most deforestation occurs because of logging, clearing for agriculture, or fires. A lot of carbon is stored in these forests, and when they are destroyed that carbon is released into the atmosphere. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, tropical deforestation accounts for twenty percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Additionally, forests are a very important part of fighting global warming because they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Thus, deforestation is an activity that greatly contributes to global warming and climate change.
 
Deforestation is especially prevalent in developing countries, and it is the largest source of emissions for many of them. These countries are also more hurt by the effects of deforestation than anywhere else. For example, tropical forests catch rainfall and allow it to reach the ground at a steady pace. When those forests are no longer there, rain reaches the ground at a much faster rate causing runoff. Contaminated water is a huge problem in developing countries, and it is created in part by deforestation. Currently, developing countries and industrial countries are attempting to work together to solve the problem of deforestation.