Reverse in Deforestation Rates Means Amazon Continues Shrinking

Last year, rates of deforestation had dropped for the third consecutive year, but recent news has revealed that this is no longer the case; unfortunately the reverse.

Statistics for the August - December period of 2007 have shown that the rates have in fact doubled, and while it’s early days, this data suggests that the accumulated rates for the year will end up being high.

It has previously been stated that the contribution of the Brazilian government would help decrease deforestation, indicating that the rising prices of food such as beef and soya have meant that farmers have been clearing more of the rainforest to compensate for their losses.

Paul Adario, from Greenpeace Brazil, speaking to the Guardian, has said that while the government has had some success in tackling the problem, the reality of the economy can’t be as easily controlled, and that every time there is a price rise in food, a rise in deforestation will follow.