elaborate on this piece of evidence for a body paragraph on a 8th grade level

Question

“In the last decade, the largest amounts of deforestation occurred across the humid tropics, mostly in Africa, followed by South America. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that around 420 million hectares of forest were lost between 1990 and 2020 (or 178 million hectares net, i.e. taking into account afforestation and the natural expansion of forests). The annual rate of deforestation has since slowed but was still 10 million hectares per year between 2015 and 2020. The most important driver of deforestation is the global demand for agricultural commodities: agribusinesses clear huge tracts of forest and use the land to plant high-value cash crops like palm oil and soya, and for cattle ranching.”

Answer 1

Deforestation is a major environmental issue that has serious consequences for our planet. Over the last decade, the greatest loss of forests has happened in the humid tropics, particularly across Africa and South America. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an astonishing 420 million hectares of forest have been lost worldwide from 1990 to 2020. To put that in perspective, that's about the size of the entire country of India! Although the rate of deforestation has slowed down in recent years, it's still alarmingly high, with around 10 million hectares disappearing each year between 2015 and 2020.

One of the main reasons for this widespread deforestation is the increasing global demand for agricultural products. Large agricultural companies, known as agribusinesses, need more land to grow high-value cash crops like palm oil and soya. These crops are in high demand because they are used in many products, from food to cosmetics. To make room for these crops, these companies often cut down large areas of forest, which not only destroys habitats for countless plants and animals but also contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide stored in trees. This shows how our consumption choices can have a direct impact on the environment, emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices and responsible consumption habits to protect our forests and the planet.