Perilous
Times
Deforestation: Brazil 'to allow clear cutting of forest area
equal to Germany, Italy and Austria'
An area of forest equal to Germany, Italy and Austria combined
could be lost forever if Brazil's senate approves new laws on land
clearance to be voted on within days, conservationists have
warned.
WWF said studies suggest the new legislation could see 175 million
acres of forest cleared or not restored following illegal
deforestation
By Robin Yapp, Sao Paulo
6:09PM GMT 23 Nov 2011
The Telegraph UK
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has declined steadily since
2004 and fell to the lowest level on record in the year from
August 2009 to July 2010 following improved satellite monitoring
and tougher enforcement.
But this year has already seen signs of a resurgence in several
areas and environmental groups believe proposed changes to
Brazil's Forest Code will exacerbate the problem in the Amazon and
beyond.
They warn that the legislation would open up vast swathes of the
world's biggest rainforest to uses such as cattle ranching and soy
production and end hopes of replanting many illegally cleared
areas.
According to WWF, Brazil's efforts to position itself as a "global
environmental leader" risk being severely damaged before it hosts
the UN Conference on Sustainable Development – known as Rio+20 –
in Rio de Janeiro in June next year.
Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, WWF-Brazil's CEO, said: "We are
watching, just before Brazil hosts Rio+20, a clear attempt to
dismantle Brazil's environmental legislation. This is something
unprecedented in our history." She warned that "input from
scientists, researchers, family farmers and social groups has been
systematically ignored" by Brazil's upper and lower houses of
parliament.
WWF said studies suggest the new legislation could see 175 million
acres of forest – an area roughly equivalent to Germany, Italy and
Austria together – cleared or not restored following illegal
deforestation.
The laws would "likely make it impossible" for Brazil to meet its
commitment of reducing deforestation by 80 per cent by 2020
compared to its average rate from 1996 to 2005, the charity said.
The new bill will update the Forest Code, which dates back to 1965
and applies to the nearly 5.2 million farmers and owners of rural
land in Brazil, around 90 per cent of whom are considered small
landowners.
The current code requires them to keep a certain percentage of
their land as untouched forest, varying from 20 per cent in some
areas to 80 per cent in the Amazon.
But around nine out of 10 landowners are believed to fall short of
full compliance.
The new laws, already passed by Brazil's lower house in May, would
see an amnesty from heavy fines granted to landowners who cleared
forest illegally between 1965 and July 2008.
They would also see rules on the clearing of hills relaxed and
safeguard forest areas bordering rivers to between 100 and 330
feet from the river bank – figures criticised as insufficient by
scientists and conservationists.
Agriculture has played an important role in Brazil's economic
rise. The country is now the world's leading producer and exporter
of coffee and sugar cane, the biggest beef exporter, largest
producer of oranges and second largest producer of soy.
Senator Katia Abreu, president of the Brazilian Confederation of
Agriculture and Livestock, has led an aggressive campaign for a
reduction in environmental regulations on agricultural producers
to help further boost food output.
She claimed in a recent interview that Brazil's farmers could lose
$100bn if the deforestation amnesty is not passed and they were
forced to reforest large areas.
Brazil's Senate is due to vote on the bill before the end of
November and it will then be sent back to the lower house before
going to President Dilma Rousseff for approval.
Despite minor amendments Ms Rousseff will come under pressure to
honour a 2010 election campaign pledge to veto legislation likely
to increase deforestation, amid growing concern from
conservationists that the bill could become law this year.
Marcio Astrini, of Greenpeace's Amazon Campaign, said: "The
president has respected the progress of the bill without
commenting, letting it follow its course of destruction.
"In the next phase, she will have to keep her word to veto or
break her campaign promises."