A second, and likely lesser, factor linking urban growth to deforestation is that cities are often expanding into areas of farmland and natural habitat, including forests. ... "By one estimate, urbanization may cause the loss of up to [7.4 million acres] of prime agricultural land each year."

Is deforestation part of urbanization?

But in a new study published in Nature Geoscience by scientists at Columbia's E3B department, researchers found that deforestation is now driven largely by urbanization and trade.

What percentage of deforestation is caused by urbanization?

The study finds less than 1 percent of global forest loss was attributable to urbanization, with around 1 percent caused by something other than these four main drivers.