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The cattle and ranching industry has historically been the largest reason the rainforest has been clear-cut within the borders of Brazil. According to Mongabay.com, between 65 and 70 percent of the rainforest lost in the Brazilian rain forest between 2000 and 2005 was to make room for large cattle ranches. Small-scale agriculture was the second worst offender, with 20 to 25 percent of deforestation estimated to be linked to smaller farms.
Overall Reduction
The actual rates of deforestation and clear-cutting change from year to year and even reduce at times, but one number has inexorably grown since awareness of rainforest loss became a public issue. National Geographic reports that more than half the rain forest that once existed is gone. Earth's land mass was once covered with 14 percent rain forest. At present, that number is closer to 6 percent.
New Forest Growth
A New York Times story from 2009 discusses the movement among scientists to credit the regrowth of rainforest as evidence that the battle against clear-cutting is being won. The story quotes one estimate that suggests that for every acre of forest that is cut down, 50 acres more are growing. However, the alternate view is also presented, as some scientists argue that the new growth is not presenting all the benefits and habitat that would be present in old growth rainforest.
Current Rates
In 2010, the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest decreased substantially. In Brazil, the National Institute for Space Research declared 2009 to 2010 the period with the lowest deforestation rate since the late 1980s. This represented a 13.6 percent drop in the rate of rainforest destruction. This represents the amount at which shallow-cut clear-cutting occurred and doesn't account for other factors that eliminate rainforest resources, such as fire.