Brazilian Government Denies Linkage Between Settling Forests & Deforestation - Reuters

[hatrack]

BRASILIA - Brazil's government rejected accusations on Tuesday that its settlement of poor peasants in the Amazon was fueling the destruction of the world's largest rain forest but promised an investigation.

Several reports said this week that settlements of landless peasants were being used to extract timber. They said the government land reform agency, Incra, promoted timber companies through "suspect" contracts and "phantom" settlements. Incra intentionally chose forested areas with valuable trees, Greenpeace said in a report picked up by some newspapers.

The government denied the reports, saying that deforestation in settlements had been falling, not rising, and was not always illegal.

But Environment Minister Marina Silva pledged on Tuesday a full investigation into the accusations. "This is an investigation that certainly will be carried out by Incra and other authorities," she told reporters in the western farm city Cuiaba.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43853/story.htm

[phantom power]

1. Such cynics. I'm sure they live *between* the trees.

:eyes:

[hatrack]

2. Hey!! Haven't you ever heard of HAMMOCKS!

I'm sure that's what they're doing! Just slinging them up and relaxing!