Amazon Rainforest Deforestation 'Worst in 10 Years', Says Brazil (bbc.com)

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has hit its highest rate in a decade, according to official data. BBC reports: About 7,900 sq km (3,050 sq miles) of the world's largest rainforest was destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018 -- an area roughly five times the size of London. Environment Minister Edson Duarte said illegal logging was to blame. The figures come amid concerns about the policies of Brazil's newly elected president, Jair Bolsonaro. During the 2018 election campaign, Mr Bolsonaro pledged to limit fines for damaging forestry and to weaken the influence of the environmental agency. An aide for the president-elect has also announced the administration will merge the agriculture and environment ministries, which critics say could endanger the rainforest. The latest government data says most of the deforestation occurred in the states of Mato Grosso and Para, and marked a 13.7% rise over last year's figures. Mato Grosso is the top producer of grains in Brazil, and critics say expanding agriculture is also encroaching on the rainforest.

Comments

Bullshit

[rsilvergun]

the US screwing with the economic stability of the region is the biggest problem. Want folks to care about the environment? Give them a strong enough economy they can think about something besides tomorrow's meal. The US keeps butting their heads in (it's become pretty clear our CIA was responsible for the scandal that let Brazil's right wing depose their left, then there's the crap we did in Honduras, and the entire drug war, and "Banana Republics"....). Meanwhile the US voters keep looking the other way.

Doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing, fix the economy first and folks'll take care of the environment.