Spoiler alert: It can indeed be beneficial! The solution is to use the land sustainably through regenerative agriculture or agroforestry. Regenerative land-use means that farmers preserve natural vegetation on their land or restore degraded areas to provide habitat for wildlife. They use only organic fertilizers and pest control to boost yields and productivity.

One example for regenerative land-use is sustainable cocoa production through agroforestry schemes. Cocoa grows on small bushes which can be planted in the understorey under large trees. Because only a minimal amount of clearance is required, neither the forest nor the wildlife are damaged. Organically grown chocolate can fetch high prices on the market so that farmers gain a fair income for their produce. Consequently, by eating chocolate from agroforestry schemes we eliminate the need to log tropical forests.