26 Oct
2006 - Brasilia, Brazil – The Brazilian government
announced today revised figures on the rate of
deforestation in the Amazon, indicating less forest
destruction than in previous years.
According to the government,
13,000km2 of rainforest were destroyed in the
12-month period between August 2005 and 2006 —
the second lowest rate since figures started being
compiled in 1988.
The current number represents
a 30 per cent less reduction when compared to
the previous statistics of 2004 and 2005.
“The rates are a positive result
of the government’s efforts to address deforestation,”
said WWF-Brazil’s CEO, Denise Hamu. “Nonetheless,
it is important to guarantee conditions for the
consolidation and sustainability of these reduction
levels.”
WWF-Brazil believes that this
will only happen when clear, public forest policies
are implemented and financial resources are made
available to tackle ongoing deforestation, stimulate
sustainable forestry activities, and encourage
state governments in the Amazon region to better
cooperate when addressing such important environmental
issues.
According to WWF-Brazil, a number
of factors may explain the current decrease, including
a reduction in the price of soy, Brazil’s most
important agricultural commodity, which may have
reduced the incentive to cut down the Amazon to
make way for new plantations.
“We can’t continue to be held
hostage by such isolated actions to conserve the
Amazon,” Hamu added. “We need to strengthen the
national plan to combat deforestation.”
Combating deforestation will
also help in the fight against climate change.
Around 75 per cent of all Brazilian greenhouse
gas emissions are a result of forest fires, which
are set to clear large tracts of rainforest for
agricultural activities. As a result, Brazil ranks
forth in the list of countries who contribute
negatively to global warming.
According to experts, around
17 per cent of the natural vegetation in the Brazilian
Amazon has already been devastated by development,
logging and farming.
Aware of the seriousness of
the situation in the Amazon, a Brazilian proposal
to create a global fund to help contain rainforest
destruction and slash carbon emissions will be
introduced next month at an upcoming international
climate change meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mariana Ramos, Communications
Officer
