Ministers attacked on destruction of forest

Published on Thursday 31 January 2008 21:20

BRAZIL'S government is unwilling and unable to halt destruction in the Amazon rainforest, despite emergency measures it announced last week, environmental experts say.

High commodity prices and increased land use elsewhere are driving ranchers and farmers deeper into the Amazon in search of cheap land.

Between August and December last year, 2,703 square miles of forest were chopped down – two-thirds the area generally lost in a year.

In response, the government of president Luiz Incio Lula da Silva banned logging and cut farm credits in 36 municipalities where deforestation is fastest. It also said it would ban farm products from illegally deforested areas and register property deeds to prevent land theft.

"If we play all our cards we can reduce deforestation in 2008," Marina Silva, the environment minister, said.

In the two years to July 2007, the rate of forest loss had slowed by 50 per cent. But environmentalists said the measures were half-hearted and some could even increase deforestation. Paulo Moutinho, co-ordinator at the Environmental Research Institute of the Amazon, said: "It's a positive first step, but only a drop in the ocean."

Applying restrictions where deforestation already occurred would force loggers and ranchers to neighbouring municipalities, said Roberto Smeraldi, head of Friends of the Earth in Brazil.

"The government is following, not anticipating, deforestation – these measures could fan the fire," he warned.

"Loggers are celebrating in towns left off the hook – the government has a terrible enforcement track record."

Mr Smeraldi argued that, while the government sent more troops and cartographers to curb logging, it was promoting deforestation through large infrastructure and mining projects, roads and settlements.

A proposed hydroelectric plant on the Rio Madeira could attract 100,000 settlers.

"The government raises a red flag with the left hand and then chops trees with the right," Mr Smeraldi said.

The president, the military and other nationalists often complain about foreigners meddling in the Amazon.

"Those (foreign] NGOs (nongovernmental organisations] should go plant trees in their own countries," Mr Lula said yesterday.