Deforestation of the Amazon basin has dropped to its lowest rate since records began almost 20 years ago, the Brazilian government announced.
Some 9,600km2 of forest were lost between August 2006 and 2007, compared with 14,000km2 the year before. It was the third consecutive year in which the rate has dropped from a high in 2004 of 24,429km2.
Environment department officials estimate revision of historical data using new methods will likely show it to be the lowest rate of loss in more than 30 years.
