This document discusses deforestation and its causes and impacts. It notes that the world is losing about 20.4 million hectares of tropical forests annually, and if rates are not reduced all tropical forests could be lost in about 50 years. It discusses some of the efforts to increase awareness of and reduce deforestation, including the introduction of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan in 1985 which involved several international organizations and over 60 countries developing national forestry plans. The document also outlines some of the direct causes of tropical deforestation, including permanent agriculture, ranching, unsustainable forestry, infrastructure projects and fires.