Forests have long been assumed to provide an important source of income for many of the world’s poor. But determining exactly how forests contribute to rural economies – such as how much income is derived from forests, or how poverty relates to deforestation – has been difficult to pinpoint. The study also found that farmers with relatively higher incomes and better access to markets are responsible for a larger share of forest clearing than the most destitute farmers. This runs contrary to the common belief that the poorest farmers drive deforestation. It could also mean that development programs designed to increase access to markets for rural communities could speed forest clearing.