Legislation debate 'could have huge ramifications for the Amazon'

The Amazon rainforest is facing a new threat which could see deforestation increase.

According to the WWF, Brazil's Forest Law which specifies how much land a landowner must leave forested is being debated in the country's congress, with business leaders calling for the rules to be relaxed.

Presently, the legislation states that 80 per cent of land must remain forested however, agribusinesses and landowners claim it is too strict and is choking economic prosperity.

The WWF believes that any relaxing in the law will see significant numbers of trees felled and would have disastrous consequences for the rainforest.

"We would certainly expect a strong upsurge in deforestation. This would not only be bad for the Amazon and its ecosystems, but would make the country's promised action plan on climate change impossible, as it relies on continued reductions in deforestation-related emissions," the organisation states.

Kamalesh Sharma, commonwealth secretary general, told delegates at the 18th Commonwealth Forestry Conference in Edinburgh that deforestation represents the front line in the battle against climate change and efforts must be made to reduce the current rate at which trees are being chopped down.

Written by Aaron Akinyemi

© Copyright

Bookmark this page: