Final answer:
The major driver of deforestation in boreal forests is logging and timber production, with activities such as logging, timber exports, and forest fires playing a role. In tropical forests, deforestation is driven by agriculture expansion and industrial activities, including slash-and-burn farming, cattle ranching, and logging. The correct answer is: A. Logging and timber production; agriculture and urbanization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major driver of deforestation in boreal forests is primarily logging and timber production. In Russia, for example, legal and illegal logging have increased notably, making Siberia a significant source of timber exports. Nearly half of Canada's boreal forest is managed for wood production, and fire occurrence is also a contributing factor to the habitat loss in this region. When it comes to tropical forests, agriculture expansion, and industrial activities, such as logging, mining, and petroleum development, are major contributors to deforestation. Large-scale agriculture by corporations and wealthy landowners is becoming the direct cause of tropical deforestation, primarily driven by the demand for biofuels and the rising standards of living, which spike the need for more grains and edible oils. Notably, in the Amazon, activities like slash-and-burn farming, cattle ranching, and logging are the prominent methods leading to deforestation. The correct answer to the student's question on the major drivers of deforestation in boreal and tropical forests is A. Logging and timber production; agriculture and urbanization. These activities result in significant changes to the environment, including altered rainfall patterns, reduced biodiversity, and a shift in land use from forests to human development.