Brazil Calls Army to Battle Deforestation

[Dancing_Dave]

"Deforestation of the Amazon destroyed over 23.7 thousand square
kilometers of forest last year alone. The Brazilian government
is counting on its Armed Forces to fight this problem. Through
the end of 2005, the Brazilian Army should receive US$ 6.10
million to underwrite its operations in the Amazon region.
Maurício Cardoso

The Brazilian Army will provide logistic support and guarantee the security of operations to monitor, control, and combat deforestation in the Amazon.

The agreement between the Ibama (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis—Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) and the Army Command of Land Operations (Coter), signed on August 6 in Brasília, is part of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Amazon, which counts on the participation of 13 ministries.

According to the Army General Commander, General Francisco Roberto Albuquerque, the preservation of the Amazon is a matter of national security.

"Environmental preservation ceased to be an issue confined to environmentalists and intellectuals a long time ago. The preservation of the ecosystem and the rich biodiversity of the Amazon is a matter of national security," the Commander affirmed, adding that the intensive presence of the Armed Forces will avoid illegitimate meddling in the region"

Rest at http://www.brazzil.com/2004/html/articles/aug04/p116aug04.htm

What a great way to use an army!

My cousin is a military reservist who dreads being shipped off to Iraq. She'd feel just great about defending our National Forests though!

[Peregrine]

1. It Can't Be

I just read an article from the GreenSpirit founder (and self proclaimed founder of Greenpeace) that the Brazilian rainforests are increasing in size. How can the spokesman for a environmental group that is a front for the British Columbian timber industry, a fellow of the CATO institute, and the environmental consultant to the AEI be wrong?

When I worked for Raytheon, we sold the Brazilians airborne sensor platforms and ground stations to track the rainforest. Brazilian neighbors' timber companies encroach into Brazil to extract lumber.