Ontbossing

Ontbossing is the process of reducing or removing forest cover in an area, leading to permanent or long-term changes in land use. The term is commonly used in Dutch-language contexts to describe deforestation and related forest loss, and is encountered in discussions of tropical and other forested regions.

Causes and drivers include agricultural expansion (pasture and crop production), logging for timber, mining, infrastructure development, and urban growth. Economic incentives, weak governance, insecure land tenure, and demand for commodities such as palm oil, soy, and timber often amplify pressures on forests.

Impacts are broad and significant. Biodiversity declines as habitat is lost or fragmented, and soil erosion and sedimentation affect water quality. Forest loss also alters hydrological regimes and contributes to climate change through carbon emissions and reduced carbon sequestration. Local communities, particularly indigenous peoples and rural households, may lose livelihoods, cultural heritage, and land rights, while increased flood or drought risk can follow landscape changes.

Management and policy responses focus on reducing ontbossing through governance and planning. Measures include protected areas, sustainable forest management, and forest certification schemes (for example FSC or PEFC). REDD+ programs aim to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by providing incentives for conservation and sustainable land use. Restoration efforts, such as reforestation, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, alongside improved monitoring using remote sensing and field surveys, help track progress and guide policy. Addressing underlying causes—land tenure reforms, sustainable supply chains, and demand-side policy—is essential to curb forest loss.