Brazils Plans to Reduce Deforestation

New policies in Brazil seem to be leading to a reduction in the deforestation of the Amazon. This was done by increasing inspections as well as increasing the fines rendered.

The minister of Environment, Marina Silva, points to the current Administration's policies to combat deforestation as responsible for the 31% reduction in the deforested area registered this year in the Amazon. In an interview, Wednesday (28), on TV Nacional, the minister affirmed that the change in approach to the problem was fundamental for the country to reduce deforestation.

"In our country deforestation has always been a serious problem, causing embarrassment here and abroad and demanding an effective policy to reduce deforestation to a sustainable level," Silva remarked. According to the minister, prior to the current Administration, between 2001 and 2002, deforestation had increased 27%, from 18 thousand square kilometers to 23 thousand square kilometers. "We perceived the seriousness of the problem and suggested to the core of the Administration another approach, involving other ministries as well as the Ministry of Environment," she explained.

As a result, she affirmed, an inter-ministerial group was set up in 2004 to draft the National Plan to Prevent and Combat Deforestation. "The ministries of Environment, Justice, and Defense, the IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), the federal and highway police, and state governments began to work together. We increased our inspection capacity 60% and expanded our application of fines by more than 80%," she commented.

Source Agencia Brasil

By increasing the number of licenses granted there is less transparency of who is cutting trees. Therefore the forest can be monitored more carefully.

Tags: brazil , deforestation , environment