04/10/2011 - BRASÍLIA
(October 3, 2011) - Deforestation rates
in the Amazon fell by 21.8 percent from
July to August 2011 as a result of enforcement
efforts and monitoring initiatives
by the Brazilian government, Minister of
Environment Izabella Teixeira announced
today in Brasília. Data released
by the National Institute for Space Research
(INPE) show an estimated 163.8 square kilometers
of forests cleared during this period, down
from 224.9 square kilometers in July 2011.
INPE figures show a
38.2 percent year-on-year decrease in deforestation
rates compared to August 2010 and a 67.1
percent decrease compared to August 2009
rates.
"These are the
lowest rates for the month of August since
we started monitoring deforestation rates
on a monthly basis in 2004", said Minister
Teixeira at today's press conference. "Preliminary
data and information from our agents in
the field indicate that we'll also see positive
results for September."
Brazil's strategy to
tackle deforestation in the Amazon is strengthened
by INPE's near real-time satellite monitoring
of forest regions to improve the accuracy
of alerts for field operations. The government
also works to support the expansion of sustainable
activities in the region.
"The measures we
have implemented since April, such as setting
up a crisis task-force and sending additional
enforcement agents to the field, have had
a great impact in reducing deforestation
in the region", said Mauro Pires, Director
of Policies to Combat Deforestation at the
Ministry of Environment.
From January to August
2011, enforcement activities administered
by the Brazilian Institute of Environment
and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA)
resulted in the suspended titles for 72,490
hectares of land, the closing of 55 sawmills
and the seizing of 61,000 cubic meters of
wood and 353 trucks and tractors.
In 2010, deforestation
rates in the Amazon reached the lowest rates
ever recorded for the second consecutive
year. According to updated data released
by INPE, deforestation in 2010 included
7,000 square kilometers of forests, resulting
in a record-breaking decrease in rates since
monitoring began in 1988.
Source: Secom
