The Brazilian government has introduced new measures to fight deforestation of the Amazon rainforest following an apparent surge in land clearing in the second half of 2007.
After limiting deforestation in the first eight months of 2007 to less than 100 square miles a month, government officials said the last third of the year had seen more than 300 sq m of Amazon rainforest cleared each month. Satellite photo evidence is expected to see a significant lift in this estimate.
Brazilian environment minister Marina Silva said the jump in world commodity prices is thought to be behind the renewed plunder of the rainforest.
The new measures announced include making companies that use timber and other forest resources from the Amazon in their products legally liable for deforestation. Such firms as meat and crop processors and commodity traders are in the governments eye.
Agriculture Minister Reinhold Stephanes said farming output, especially soy and beef, could be increased in the country without clearing rainforest.
The government said it would also use the army to boost its inspection coverage of threatened forest areas and had frozen land clearing requests in 36 municipalities.
Deforestation of tropical rainforest is thought responsible for 20 per cent of total world greenhouse emissions each year.
http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=971
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