Livestock expansion is cited as a key factor driving deforestation; in the Amazon basin 70% of previously forested area is now occupied by pastures and the remainder used for feed crops.
lˈaɪvstɑːk ɛkspˈænʃən ɪz sˈaɪɾᵻd æz ɐ kˈiː fˈæktɚ dɹˈaɪvɪŋ diːfˌɔːɹɪstˈeɪʃən; ɪnðɪ ˈæmɐzˌɑːn bˈeɪsən sˈɛvənti pɚsˈɛnt ʌv pɹˈiːviəsli fˈɔːɹɪstᵻd ˈɛɹiə ɪz nˈaʊ ˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd baɪ pˈæstʃɚz ænd ðə ɹᵻmˈeɪndɚ jˈuːzd fɔːɹ fˈiːd kɹˈɑːps.