Deforestation of Amazon 'halved'

[tocqueville]

By Tom Gibb
BBC News, Sao Paulo

Brazil's government has announced estimates suggesting that deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has fallen by 50% this year.

The government says it believes this is the result of new protection policies.

But environmental groups warn it is too soon to be sure there has been a long-term reversal in the destruction of the world's largest rainforest.

Environment Minister Marina da Silva said some 9,000 sq km (3,475 sq miles) of forest was felled in the last year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4189792.stm

[Mnemosyne]

1. This is very good news.

Thank you!

[Orsino]

2. Or the news is less bad, anyway.

Until new growth equals the deforestation, though, we're still losing.