What was common between growing population and commercial farming in context of deforestation?

Correct answer: Both increased demand for cultivable land

The direct answer is option A: both growing population and commercial farming increased the demand for cultivable land. A larger population needed more food, so more land could be brought under cultivation. Commercial farming also expanded because markets and profits encouraged the production of crops for sale, and this required additional fields. In both cases, forests could be cleared to create agricultural land, although the immediate reason differed: food needs in one case and market demand in the other. Option A is correct because it identifies their common pressure on land. Option B is wrong because neither factor automatically protected forests. Option C is wrong because both factors directly concerned land use. Option D is wrong because these were land-based causes, not sea-related causes. Do not say that population alone caused every instance; the question asks for the common point. Exam cue: population brings food demand, commerce brings market demand, and both can increase pressure for cultivable land.