Deforestation

FACT

Reducing beef consumption in Canada will have no impact on rates of tropical deforestation.


A recent study at the University of Guelph, Ontario, found that the social and economic conditions in South and Central America are responsible for deforestation.  The study further states that in order to slow forest depletion in South and Central America, emphasis should be placed on domestic causes of forest depletion, rather than on North American beef consumption.

Beef imports into North America have been declining, but forest depletion in South and Central America is continuing.  The study identifies regional development, subsistence production, shifting cultivation, fuelwood and charcoal production, the debt burden, forest fires, pasture development, and national agricultural policies as potential contributors to forest depletion.

Causes of deforestation:

• Peasant agriculture - 77,200 square miles/year
• Timber ranching - 28,000 square miles/year
• Cattle ranching - 7,720 square miles/year

Canada imports approximately 17% of its beef needs - primarily from the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Canada imports less than 2.3% of its beef from South America.  This beef is imported only as canned products.

Currently, Canada does not import beef from Central American countries. 
Fresh and frozen beef imports from South America are strictly prohibited because of the danger of spreading foot and mouth disease to Canadian cattle.  Therefore, none of the hamburger chains in Canada are allowed to obtain fresh or frozen beef from South America.

Curtailing beef consumption in Canada will only hurt domestic beef producers and thousands of other Canadians employed in the industry.