Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Rainforest up 157% in July

The deforestation rate in Brazil's Amazon rainforest region in July went up by 44 percent from June and 157 percent compared with June 2008, a Brazilian institute announced on Tuesday.

According to the National Institute of Space Research, the deforested area, which is 836.5 square km, equals half the size of Sao Paulo, the largest city in South America.

Para state in the north of the country registered the highest deforestation in July with 577 square km, almost 70 percent of the total deforested area.

During the January-July period of this year, the accumulated deforestation area reached 1,958 square km, down 60 percent from the same period in 2008.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/02/content_11983156.htm