Brazil

Amazon deforestation drops, but doesn’t stop

Posted by jamie — 3 December 2010 at 12:12pm - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: Funari/Lineair/Greenpeace

You'll no doubt be pleased to hear that deforestation rates in the Amazon have fallen, according to figures from the government of Brazil. The National Institute for Space Research reported yesterday that just 6,451km2 of rainforest were felled between August 2009 and July 2010, a drop of 14 per cent on the previous year.

Article tagged as: amazon, brazil, deforestation, forest code, forests, rainforests, REDD

New Amazon forest law comes one step closer

Posted by jamie — 7 July 2010 at 5:27pm - Comments

While the EU has just voted to ban illegal timber, yesterday Brazil came a step closer to severely weakening the forest code which has helped protect the Amazon rainforest for over 70 years. The Brazilian congress approved the plan to amend the legislation, and if it becomes law then the area of the rainforest which can be legally destroyed will dramatically increase.

Paulo Adario and others from our Brazilian office were present and activists protested against a yes vote. There was also plenty of criticism from other concerned parties - environmentalists, rural organisations and legal representatives, for instance - but still the vote passed.

The amended forest code still has to pass several more hurdles before it reaches the statute books, but with each yes vote it becomes more and more likely it will do so. Eventually, it will have to go to the president who can sign it into law or kick it out. Hopefully it won't get that far, but we'll let you know how you can help if and when the time comes.

Article tagged as: amazon, brazil, forest code, forests

Proposed forest law threatens Amazon rainforest

Posted by jamie — 5 July 2010 at 12:17pm - Comments

In Brazil, moves are afoot to amend a piece of legislation which has been protecting the Amazon rainforest for over 70 years, and not for the better. If the changes are voted through, it could mean that the area of the Amazon which can be legally destroyed will double, and it's the backers of these changes - the agriculture, biofuels and energy barons - who stand to benefit as they argue that pesky forest laws are a hindrance to economic development. 

Article tagged as: amazon, brazil, forest code, forests, lula, rainforests, videos

Could bluefin tuna fisheries be closed? Our man in Brazil reports...

Posted by Willie — 12 November 2009 at 2:46pm - Comments

So, here in Brazil, the game is on. At the end of yesterday’s session the parties around the table at the ICCAT meeting were asked what their priorities were for conserving bluefin tuna. One by one they made positive murmurings about wanting to 'follow the scientific recommendations', and enforce compliance with them. They all pretty much said they want to see illegal fishing tackled. No rocket science there, and you would be forgiven for wondering why they have not done those things already!

Article tagged as: atlantic, bluefin, brazil, iccat, overfishing, tuna
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