Human activity is also adding CO2 to the atmosphere through
deforestation. When tropical forests are clear cut,
the land is typically converted to pasture. The original forest and its soil have a much
higher carbon content than the pastureland, so the process of burning the forest must
result in a significant release of carbon to the atmosphere.
Deforestation is thought to be releasing about 1.5 gigatons of carbon every
year into the atmosphere.