world news - 20.07.2009
Amazon deforestation at lowest level
New NASA research showed a sharp decline in the quantity of smoke over the Amazon region during the 2008 burning season, which is mainly used to establish pasture for cattle ranching.
According to Amigos de Terra, deforestation in the area is increasingly caused by industrial development, given that the region is one of the world’s major sources of meat and soybeans.
However, the global financial crisis has seen a drop in commodity prices, which has discouraged forest land conversion to pasture and other uses.
The Brazilian government expects the trend to continue and has also agreed to reduce annual forest loss by 70% by 2018 under its national action plan on climate change.
See also:
- — Russian Timber Backlog at Finnish Border
- — Wood costs for pulpmills in Sweden and Finland have fallen over 30 % the past year
- — Timber body challenged on climate claims
- — Forest owners make profits on energy wood
- — Wood trade in Finland continues at a record slow pace
