By Philip Fearnside
Brazil’s Amazonian deforestation declined dramatically from 2004 to 2012, and many have been quick to claim credit for the improvement. The Brazilian government has repeatedly claimed that the change is thanks to inspections and fines for illegal clearing, and soy multinationals claim their supply chains are now “green” thanks to self-governance.
A mantra is omnipresent in Brasília that deforestation is “under control.” The corollary of this theory, of course, is that the government need not fear that its extensive plans to build highways and dams in Amazonia will provoke deforestation. Unfortunately, this is incorrect.
First of all, the decline in …read more
Source: Cyprus Mail
