Amazon deforestation halved
Brazil’s environment minister, Carlos Minc, claims Amazon deforestation fell 49% between August and November 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. According to satellite images obtained from INPE, there was a 72.4% drop in deforestation in October and November. During this period, 247 km2 of Amazon rainforest was cleared compared with 890 km2 during the same period in 2008.
From August to November 2009, the INPE (National Institute for Space Research) reported 1.14 thousand km2 of deforestation compared with 2.24 thousand km2 during the same period in 2008. According to Mr Minc, if the country continues at this pace, the Amazon could end the year with just 3.5 thousand km2 of deforestation, ten years in advance of the 2020 target.
The Brazilian goal, coordinated by the UN, is to cut 80% of deforestation in the Amazon by 2020, based on the average deforestation between the years 1996 and 2006.
Pará is still the state with the highest deforestation rate, but there was an 82% reduction in November compared with the prior-year period. Maranhao has the second highest rate, but managed to cut deforestation levels by 65% in November.
