Meat is the single most significant factor contributing to the destruction of the planet, and it is a factor that we control directly as individuals.
Deforestation and habitat Destruction
Meat causes deforestation in and habitat destruction on multiple levels. Clearing trees to create grazing land is the most obvious, but grazing land is only part of the picture. Most domesticated animals raised for slaughter or for their byproducts are fed grains either as a supplement to grazing or as a replacement. Growing these grains takes space, and when there is a forest in the way of growing grains for animals it has always been the forest that looses. Eating organic doesn't change a thing when it comes to deforestation. The forest of the world are being cut down to make room for burgers and hotdogs, organic and free range as they might be.
The equivalent to seven football fields is destroyed every minute!