Brazil creates largest tropical rainforest reserve

[nam78_two]

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11783

ENN FULL STORY
Brazil Creates Largest Tropical Rainforest Preserve

December 05, 2006 — By Reuters
BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil created the world's largest tropical rainforest preserve Monday in a section of the Amazon scarred by illegal logging and decades of violence between loggers, ranchers, conservationists and land rights activists.

The preserve covers more than 58,000 square miles -- an area larger than England -- across seven parks in Para, an eastern Amazon state heavily exploited by illegal loggers and land speculators.

A U.S. nun named Dorothy Stang was gunned down there last year, allegedly by ranchers who wanted her to stop helping locals fight for land rights.

Para state Gov. Simao Jatene said he created the new parks to stop land speculators from selling fake titles. He also said sustainable economic activities will be allowed in some areas so locals can support themselves.

"We're trying to avoid this trap of preservation versus production. Quite frankly, this bipolar view has done more to hurt than to help," he told Reuters by phone.

[RiverStone]

1. Thanks for sharing this GOOD news!

:applause:

[nam78_two]

4. You are very welcome

Awww one vote short of GP ...hint hint ;)

[tabasco]

2. Yay Brazil !

Good job!

I am starting to see a lot of good things from there.

[Jcrowley]

3. K & R n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Viva Brazil!

[malaise]

6. Great news n/t

[phusion]

7. I trust that the Brazilian leadership will have the wisdom...

to allow the indigenous populations to continue living within the new park's boundaries. I hope they don't make the same mistakes that were made in Africa where the indigenous people were pushed out of the park and forced to live in squalor.

That's my only concern...This is great news!