Disappearing Amazon: Congratulations to Brazil’s Cattle Ranchers

Photo: Disappearing Amazon: Congratulations to Brazil’s Cattle Ranchers

The Amazon rainforest belongs to Brazil and nobody else. That being said, despite the fact that the rate of deforestation has slowed considerably in recent years, fifteen per cent of the area once covered by the rainforest has now disappeared, according to research undertaken by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.

The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)* has released data today revealing that the total area of the Brazilian rainforest has been reduced by 15 %, although in recent years the rate of deforestation has decreased. Reaching a peak in 2004, by 2009, the area destroyed was just one third of that cut down five years before.

The campaign by President Lula’s Government started to kick in, in terms of results, in recent years: between 2007 and 2009 forest fires were reduced by 63%, while between 1997 and 2004, the area destroyed showed a continuous increase.

The report claims that the main source of emission of harmful GEG gases in Brazil is the destruction of the rainforest, because the fires represent around 75% of Brazilian carbon dioxide emissions. IBGE states that this statistic puts Brazil among the 10 highest producers of GEG.

* IBGE Sustainable Development Indicators´

João MOREIRA

BRAZIL