Agriculture and deforestation don't have to go hand in hand

The world's tropical regions lost 7 million hectares of forest between 2000 and 2010 while gaining 6 million hectares of agricultural land, but the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says we don't necessarily have to swap trees for food. In a report released today, it says forests boost agriculture by stabilizing the soil and climate, and better communication between the two sectors can increase both tree cover and food security. BBC