Emergency Measures To Curb Deforestation At Cabinet Meeting

At an emergency cabinet meeting chaired by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian government has agreed to take emergency measures to curb deforestation as figures revealed a sharp increase in large-scale destruction of the Amazon forests.

Brazilian government figures showed that in just the last five months of 2007, 3,235 sq km of forest cover were lost. The worst deforested states include the state of Mato Grosso as well as the states of Para and Rondonia.

Among the measures to be initiated by the government to curb deforestation include boosting the number of federal police and environmental agents by 25% to prevent farmers and cattle ranchers illegally felling additional rainforest.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Marina Silva said environmental agents and federal police would be deployed around 36 cities and towns where illegal clearing has seen a dramatic rise last year.

Additionally, people or businesses buying anything produced on the deforested land could face fines, she said adding that the authorities will also monitor areas of deforestation to stop crop cultivation and cattle raising.

The environment minister attributed rising prices of raw materials and commodities to be the reason for the sharp increase in rate of forest clearing.