Evaluating the Current Status of Agriculture-driven Deforestation Across Jurisdictional Scales in the United States Using Foundational, Federal Datasets
Summary
Quantifies agriculture-driven deforestation across US jurisdictions using federal datasets, providing a framework for monitoring forest-to-agriculture conversion at multiple scales.
Abstract
Agriculture-driven deforestation is a global concern, yet its extent and patterns within the United States have been difficult to quantify consistently across jurisdictional scales. This study uses foundational, federal datasets to evaluate the current status of agriculture-driven deforestation across the US at national, regional, and state levels.
Why It Matters
Understanding domestic deforestation patterns is critical for:
- International trade and supply chain accountability
- Forest conservation policy and enforcement
- Climate commitments related to land use emissions
- Sustainable agriculture certification and standards
Key Findings
- Federal datasets provide a consistent framework for monitoring deforestation across jurisdictions
- Agriculture-driven deforestation varies substantially by region
- The methodology enables tracking against international deforestation commitments
- Results inform emerging due-diligence regulations on deforestation-free supply chains
Citation
Renwick, K. M., Woodall, C. W., Mihiar, C., Murray, L. T., Lewis, R., & Beeson, P. C. (2025). Evaluating the current status of agriculture-driven deforestation across jurisdictional scales in the United States using foundational, federal datasets. Environmental Research Letters, 20(7), 074002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adbf03