Sao Paulo –
Government celebrate expected fall in the rate of devastation by 13%
Brasilia – The deforestation of Amazonia affected an area of 18,226 square
kilometres between August 1999 and August 2000, which represents an increase
of 5% in relation to the previous year. The region has, therefore, lost
600,000 square kilometres of forest. Despite this, President Fernando
Henrique Cardoso celebrated the results of a National Institute of Space
Research (INPE) report which was published yesterday. Estimates for 2000 and
2001 show a fall of 13% in the rate of deforestation, with an area of 15,184
square kilometres.
The President’s spokesman, Alexandre Parola, said that FHC was satisfied
with the figures, which demonstrated the “useful work” developed by
ex-Environment Minister, Jose Sarney Filho, and his successor, Jose Carlos
Carvalho. The government, which identified the 49 municipalities responsable
for 80% of the devastation of the region’s forest cover, attributed the
predicted fall to three factors: the efficiency of monitoring practices, the
Environmental Crimes Law – which increased the fines for infractions from R$
4,900 to R$ 50 million – and the Provisional Measure which altered the
Forest Code, which requires that 80% of rural properties be protected.
Carvalho fear the effect that the election will have on the situation in
Amazonia. “Deforestation could begin to increase again if the candidates
fail to take measures to control it.” Among these measures could be the
licensing of deforestation on rural properties using satellite images, as
was successfully tried in Mato Grosso.
Another crucial point, the Minister said, is the conclusion of the
Ecological-Economic Zoning (ZEE) of Amazonia, predicted for the middle of
2003. The ZEE will define areas which are appropriate for conservation and
for ranching.
Waste – Carvalho added that, taking the Provisional Measure of the Forest
Code into account, 400,000 square kilometres could still be deforested in
Legal Amazonia. “We must take care not to lose the forest for no good
reason. ” Today, some 165,000 square kilometres of deforested land has been
abandoned as it is unfit for agricultural use.
The government intends to inaugurate the Amazonia Development Agency later
this year. It will substitute SUDAM and change the model of development in
the region. The SIVAM project will enable government agencies to identify
forest clearance quickly.
During FHC’s government, Amazonia has been attacked by chainsaws. Between
1994 and 1995, deforestation reached a record 29,059 square kilometres. INPE
director, Luiz Carlos Miranda, like Carvalho, attributes this to the
stability brought by the Real. The area deforested each year averaged
between 17,000 and 18,000 square kilometres. The only fall was registered in
1996-1997, to 13,227 square kilometres.
The Socio-Environmental Institute’s (ISA) legal advisor, Andre Lima, said
that the satellites used by INPE fail to record the loss of biodiversity
caused by the selective felling carried out by some loggers. He accused the
Ministries of Agriculture, Mines and Energy and Transport of being out of
step with environmental policy.
(Translated by Amigos da Terra – Amazonia Brasileira.)
