Article: Less tree-cutting

Tuesday June 9, 2009

By RAYMOND COLITT

THE Brazilian Government says it is on track to meet its target to reduce Amazon deforestation this year and will cut credit to ranchers and meat packers who raise or buy cattle from illegally logged land.

A quarterly government report showed that 197sqkm of rainforests were destroyed between February and April, a 90% reduction from the same period last year.

Even though intense cloud cover may have impaired the accuracy of the report based on satellite images, it showed a clear downward trend, said Environment Minister Carlos Minc.

"We will have the lowest deforestation rate in 20 years," he added.

He attributed the falling deforestation rate to increased policing. But experts say lower demand for global food commodities had reduced pressure on the Amazon.

Last year Brazil abandoned years of opposition to deforestation targets to announce it would reduce destruction in the world's largest rainforest by 50% in a decade.

Minc said he agreed with Greenpeace's claim that Brazilian beef fueled destruction and that the government was complicit by funding it.

"This ministry shares the (report's) view. Cattle ranching today is the main culprit of deforestation," Minc said.

He said 11 meat packers, 20 cattle ranches and 72 suppliers would be banned from receiving government funds earmarked to rescue the beef industry, which is in trouble due to the global financial crisis. They raised and bought cattle from illegally deforested land, he said. – Reuters

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 9 June 2009