Amazon deforestation drops sharply: Brazil govt.

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1029015620070812

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Deforestation of the Amazon rain forest in Brazil fell by about a third in the 12 months through July to the lowest rate in at least seven years, the government said on Friday.

More controls on illegal logging, improved certification of land ownership, and economic development projects that preserve the forest were driving deforestation down, authorities said.

An estimated 9,600 square km (3,707 sq miles) of the world's largest rain forest were cleared in the year ended July 31, compared to a revised 14,039 sq km (5,417 sq miles) the previous year, the environment ministry said.

The findings are based on a preliminary study of satellite images and have a margin of error of plus or minus 10 percent. The final report is expected by November.

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[Liberty Belle]

1. Kick! Lowest levels since 1970....nice to hear some good news for once.

[IndyOp]

2. Brazil has that leftest weirdo as President right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_In%C3%A1cio_Lula_da_Silva">Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is the current President of Brazil, formerly a labor leader and organizer of the Workers Party. His government is building on the base left by Fernando Henrique Cardoso's government, and has aspirations to more further to the left. Cardoso's life work is an important case study in the relationship between social science theory and practice.

He received well-deserved criticism when he first took office, but he seems to be doing better!

Brazil Creates Two New Forest Reserves
November 9, 2004 7:30 p.m.
The Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)--President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva placed a large swath of rainforest under government protection Tuesday, creating two new environmental reserves in the Amazon.

The two "extractavist" reserves in the Amazon state of Para will protect over 2,000 square kilometers (772.20 square miles) of rainforest from logging, mining and other forms of environmental degradation.

Brazil has different categories of environmental reserve: Extravist reserves are designed to allow the local population to remain in the protected area, tapping rubber, picking fruits and nuts and extracting other regenerating goods from the forest.

More: http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/external_nov04.html

[tom_paine]

3. K & R for good news!