On a Clear-Cut Day, You Can Seed Forever

Brazil unveils plan to slow deforestation and soy cultivation in Amazon

Posted at 6:49 AM on 25 Jan 2008

Following Brazil's recent announcement of a dramatic rise in Amazon deforestation in the country in the last months of 2007, the country this week announced new plans to try to slow the destruction. Plans include tapping the army to conduct inspections of known problem areas and keep deforested land from being cultivated or used for pasture, fining meat processors and soy buyers that purchase products originating from deforested areas, and denying credit to landowners who don't maintain preservation areas. Brazil's environment minister, Marina Silva, attributed the spike in deforestation to rising prices for corn, soy, and meat on the international market. An estimated 2,700 square miles of Amazon rainforest was destroyed in Brazil last year between August and December, with over half of it happening in November and December alone. If the country's new plan doesn't work, Silva said, Brazil "will have an environmental loss and an economic loss."

sources: Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters

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Comments: (2 comments)

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Half Assed Solutions

Notice that the plans only aim to slow the destruction of the rainforests, not stop it. While I would have loved to support him because I thought he would be a big improvement for impoverished Brazilians, Lula has proven to just be another anti-environmental national leader who thinks that money and business is more important than the environment.

Humans have destroyed most of the forests on the planet. What's so hard to understand about trying to save ALL of what little is left?

Jeff Hoffman

by jdhlax at 9:10 AM on 26 Jan 2008

add some carrots to the sticks

I think that thev Brazilian government's plan is good, but I am not sure how well it can fight the economic incentives that drives the massive deforestation we see now. I think that another step to be taken is to give a counter-incentive to keep these trees alive. If local governments and municipalities will be paid to protect these trees, then they have an economic value as live trees. If this value will be high enough, then it will be worthwhile to keep them alive.

I think the measures should be based on the stick and the carrot both and not only rely on the stick. Give local communities the carrot and I promise you that you will see deforestation figures decrease again.

I also think it shouldn't be the sole responsibility of the Brazilian government to take care of it. The Brazilian rain forest is called "the lungs of the world" for its ability to consume greenhouse gases and produce oxygen, and hence I believe the world should chip in.

Just last week I wrote on our blog on Norway's announcement on its willingness to contribute about $500 million a year to projects aimed at protecting forests in developing countries. I think this kind of funding (and of course other countries should contribute as well) can make some good in Brazil and help Lula protect this precious natural resource.

Raz Godelnik
Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

by raz at 8:47 PM on 27 Jan 2008

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