Amazon deforestation accelerates

[Pale Blue Dot]

Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.

The government said the figure was unsatisfactory but could have been a lot worse if it had not taken action against illegal logging.

High commodity prices had allegedly tempted farmers to clear more land.

In recent years the Brazilian government has been able to celebrate three successive falls in deforestation.

But the latest estimate from the National Institute for Space Research, known as INPE, shows that this trend has come to a halt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7756241.stm

[xchrom]

1. the government could virtually stop this --

but like so many, many other places -- here included -- corruption is 'embedded'.

this deforestation isn't going to benefit but very, very few brazillians.

brazillian jokes not withstanding.