BRAZIL…….AMAZON’s DEFORESTATION SOARS

[Anonymous]

Brazil Amazon deforestation soars
The Amazon has long been known as the “lungs of the world”
The
Brazilian government has announced a huge rise in the rate of Amazon
deforestation, months after celebrating its success in achieving a
reduction.
In
the last five months of 2007, 3,235 sq km (1,250 sq miles) were
lost.Gilberto Camara, of INPE, an institute that provides satellite
imaging of the area, said the rate of loss was unprecedented for the
time of year.Officials say rising commodity prices are encouraging
farmers to clear more land to plant crops such as soya.The monthly rate
of deforestation saw a big rise from 243 sq km (94 sq miles) in August
to 948 sq km (366 sq miles) in December.”We’ve never before detected
such a high deforestation rate at this time of year,” Mr Camara
said.His concern, outlined during a news conference in Brasilia on
Wednesday, was echoed by Environment Minister Marina Silva.

Expensive soya
Ms
Silva said rising prices of raw materials and commodities could be
spurring the rate of forest clearing, as more and more farmers saw the
Amazon as a source of cheap land.”The economic reality of these states
indicate that these activities impact, without a shadow of a doubt, on
the forest,” she said.The state of Mato Grosso was the worst affected,
contributing more than half the total area of forest stripped, or 1,786
sq km (700 sq miles).The states of Para and Rondonia were also badly
affected, accounting for 17.8% and 16% of the total cleared
respectively.The situation may also be worse than reported, with the
environment ministry saying the preliminary assessment of the amount of
forest cleared could double as more detailed satellite images are
analysed.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is due to attend
an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss new measures to tackle
deforestation in the AmazonThe latest figures will be an embarrassment
for the Brazilian president, correspondents say.Last year, President
Lula said his government’s efforts to control illegal logging and
introduce better certification of land ownership had helped reduce
forest clearance significantly.Even as he celebrated the success,
though, environmentalists were warning that the rate was rising again. 

[Author]

January 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM