Brazilian activists murdered

News of the double assassination arrived in Brazil's capital just hours before the government's Chamber of Deputies approved a new forest code which allows forest owners to legally increase their deforestation rates.

Police from the Amazon State of Para have found the bodies of Joao Claudio Ribeiro da Silva and Maria do Espirito Santo in Praialta-Piranheira nature reserve during the last few days. Joao had previously reported death threats against him by loggers and ranchers because of his work to protect the forest. Along with his wife, Joao had spent the last 24 years adding value to the forest by commercialising sustainable tree products such as seeds, nuts and rubber. The couple were members of the organisation founded by the legendary Brazilian conservationist Chico Mendes, who was assassinated by ranchers in 1988.
The new forest law - which still requires the ultimate approval from the Senate and President Dilma Rousseff - will relax the code that has recently only allowed 20% of an Amazon land-holding to be deforested. Under the new bill, hill tops and slopes will be fair game for deforestation, even though these are vital for biodiversity conservation in the world's largest rainforest. Amnesties for farmers who have already cut more than 20% of their forested land are also tied in to the new code, though replanting of tree species would be required.
Smaller farmers - with less than 400 hectares (990 acres) - would not be obliged to replant forest land cleared before July 2008, but they would have to plant trees in areas illegally felled since that date. A controversial provision that would have removed all limits on preserving trees for small farmers and ranchers has been removed by the new bill's proponents.
Nevertheless, environmentalists and climate change experts from Brazil and around the world are worried that the new forest law will significantly raise deforestation levels in the short and longer term. Around 75% of Brazil's CO² emissions are already estimated to come from deforestation activities.

Sources: www.bbc.co.uk ,   www.guardian.co.uk  and www.telegraph.co.uk

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