15/02/2011
Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina are to embrace
a joint project to adapt to the effects
of climate change in their coastal regions.
Called Atlasur, the UNESCO-coordinated project
is designed to find action that can be developed
on the coasts of the three countries by
the governments and incorporated into the
development and environment agenda.
By July, the ministries
of the Environment and Planning, states
and universities will have created guidelines
on how Project Atlasur will be developed
in Brazil. The project will get US$ 12 million
from the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
matched by the countries.
Atlasur will collate
information on the South American coastline,
climate change scenarios and effects on
the coast, and coastal modeling systems.
With this information, coastal management
structures, such as early warning systems,
will be established. The idea is to draw
up short, medium and long term projects.
The effects of climate change on the coast
range from a loss of biodiversity, erosion
and flooding to damage to port, energy and
sanitation infrastructure.
Brazil has the Coastal
Zone and Marine Macro-diagnosis, which could
be used as the basis for the studies. The
document contains information used in territorial
planning, conservation, regulation and control
of natural and cultural heritage. For Brazil's
part, Project Atlasur will be run on the
coastlines of Rio de Janeiro, São
Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and
Rio Grande do Sul states.
Source: Portal Brazil / MMA
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Amazon deforestation
has fallen 23.7% in 2010, compared to 2009
08/02/2011
Data from the National Institute for Space
Research (INPE), released on December 1st
2011, recorded 134.9 km2 of deforested area
in the Amazon during November and December
2010. The data is from the Real Time Deforestation
Detection System (DETER), which monitors
the biome by satellite.
Comparing full-year
2010 to 2009, the system recorded a 23.7%
drop in deforestation. Between January and
December 2009, deforestation reached an
area of 3,102.9 km2. During the same period
of 2010, it was reduced by 2,366 km2.
The Ministry of the
Environment and IBAMA reaffirm that every
effort will be made to meet the goals of
reducing deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest.
