Image: istockphoto.com
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a meeting of his cabinet to consider emergency measures to stop the deforestation _ an apparent reverse of a three-year decline that Silva has repeatedly praised.
If emergency measures don't come soon, loggers and farmers may ramp up land-clearing operations during the rainy season beginning now in the Amazon when most deforestation traditionally occurs, said Paulo Adario, co-ordinator of Greenpeace's Amazon campaign.
"The fact that the deforestation increased in the second half of 2007 will deeply affect the first half of 2008," Adario said. "The government needs to take concrete and strong measure now to force farmers to not deforest now."
Silva's government estimates up to 7,000 square kilometres of rain forest were cleared from August through December, meaning that Brazil could lose 15,000 square kilometres of jungle by August of this year if the rate continues.
That would be a 34 per cent increase from the 11,225 square kilometres that was cut down and burned from August 2006 through July of last year.
Although preliminary calculations can only prove that 3,300 square kilometres of rain forest were cleared from August through December, government spokesman Joao Paulo Capobianco said officials were still analyzing satellite imagery and working under the assumption that the higher amount of jungle was cleared.
"We're working with the worst hypothesis," he told Brazil's official Agencia Brasil news service.
Most of last year's destruction happened in November and December and was concentrated in the three Amazon region states of Mato Grosso, Para and Rondonia.
Mato Grosso is the centre of Brazil's important soy industry. As Latin America's largest country, Brazil is second only to the United States in soy for production.
Jungle is typically cleared in the Amazon to provide pasture for cattle, then soy farmers move in to cultivate their crops. Brazil also has a booming beef export industry, and cattle ranchers have been expanding operations in the Amazon.
Adario said corn is increasingly being grown in the Amazon because of high international prices brought on by U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to promote use of corn-based ethanol.
Brazil is an importer of corn, but farmers are increasingly planting it to meet domestic demand, Adario said.
He said the government should identify the Amazon municipalities with the worst rates of deforestation and send in teams of federal police, environmental agents, tax authorities and prosecutors to mount a crackdown.
"It's better to concentrate federal activities in those areas where deforestation is totally out of control, and punish large producers," he said. "That will send a message to everyone that the government is serious."
Brazil has some of the strictest environmental laws on the planet, but enforcement is spotty.
Green Living Network
