Amazon deforestation at record low
19 June 2012Record low levels of deforestation in Brazil have been credited to the creation of sustainable forestry plantations in the country.
Forestry Research Associates (FRA) said government measures to turn industries away from illegal timber had led to less deforestation. This includes discouraging the steel industry to use illegal wood to produce charcoal, with the threat of cancelling state financing for companies if they failed to source sustainably.
New figures, released by the National Institute for Space Research in Brazil, show that Amazon deforestation rates had reached their lowest levels since records began more than 20 years ago.
In the 12 months to July 31, 2011, about 6,418km2 of forests were destroyed - the smallest area since 1988. The rate of deforestation has now dropped by 75% since 2004.
The Brazilian government said the improvement was down to changes in society and government measures, such as enforcement.
