Reuters AlertNet Lite - Amazon deforestation drops sharply- Brazilian govt

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Amazon deforestation drops sharply- Brazilian govt

10 Aug 2007 19:40:59 GMT
Source: Reuters

BRASILIA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Deforestation of the Amazon rain forest in Brazil fell by about a third in the 12 months through July to the lowest rate in at least seven years, the government said on Friday.

An estimated 9,600 square km (3,707 sq miles) were cleared in the year ended July 31, compared to a revised 14,039 sq km (5,417 sq miles) the previous year, the environment ministry said.

The findings are based on a preliminary study of satellite images and have a margin of error of plus or minus 10 percent. The final report is expected by November.

"It's a great achievement for Brazilian society; it reflects a new environmental governance," Environment Minister Marina Silva told a news conference in the capital Brasilia.

It is the lowest deforestation rate since 2000. The highest recorded was in 2004, at 27,429 sq km (10,590 sq miles).

But ministry officials say a revision of historic data using new methodology will show it to be the lowest in three decades.

"It is the lowest deforestation rate since the 1970s," said Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary at the environment ministry.

(Reporting by Raymond Colitt)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Bolivia profile
· View map

• Brazil profile
· View map

• Colombia profile
· View map

• Ecuador profile
· View map

• Peru profile
· View map

• Venezuela profile

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Rapid response capacity in mine areas
Red Cross - Norway

• SOS Children's Villages provides relief to children facing harsh winter in Peru
SOS-Kinderdorf International

• ACT Rapid Response Payment: Floods, Colombia
ACT - Switzerland

• Disastrous cold snap in Peru
Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action) - Germany

• ACT Alert: Floods in Colombia
ACT - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• Amazon deforestation drops sharply- Brazilian govt

• Colombian drug lord suspect willing to go to U.S.

• Brazil's Lula hit by crises, reform hopes fade

• Colombia's indigenous people find little to celebrate on key day

• Colombia blames rebels for soldier hostage deaths

MORE >>

Last updated:Fri Aug 10 19:41:20 2007