Amazon deforestation seen surging - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Amazon deforestation seen surging
Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:44pm EST

By Stuart Grudgings

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deforestation of the
Amazon has surged in recent months and is likely to
rise in 2008 for the first time in four years, a senior
Brazilian government scientist said on Wednesday.

The rise raises questions over Brazil's assertion that
its environmental policies are effectively protecting
the world's biggest rain forest, whose destruction is
a major source of carbon emissions that drive global
warming.

"I think the last four months is a big concern for the
government and now they are sending people to do
more law enforcement," Carlos Nobre, a scientist with
Brazil's National Institute for Space Research, told
a seminar in Washington.

"But I can tell you that it (deforestation) is going to
be much higher than 2007."

-snip-

But environmental groups have warned that rising
global commodity prices are likely to fuel more
clearing of land for farms, as occurred in 2004 when
Brazil recorded the highest deforestation rate of
more than 10,400 square miles (27,000 square km ).

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN169836020080117

[tom_paine]

1. Hey! The surge is working!

:rofl: