Brazil’s Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, reports that the government is studying the establishment of a prohibition on all deforestation activities in Brazil.
The prohibition could last anywhere from six months to a year and is described by Silva as a “braking system,” which will permit the continuation of sustainable activities and the cutting down of trees in small areas (up to three hectares).
The idea got a favorable reception at the Brazilian Environmental Protection Institute (Ibama) office in the state of Mato Grosso which has serious problems with burning and deforestation.
Elielson Ayres, who is the head of the office, said the prohibition is opportune because forest rangers are understaffed and cannot control the situation.
“If we make everything stop for six months to a year, we can concentrate our efforts on making forest management work,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of the environment activist group, Amigos da Terra (Friends of the Earth), Roberto Smeraldi, said the prohibition was a good idea but that it should be as long as possible.
“In the state of Mato Grosso, for example, deforestation and burning goes from May to July. So, if the prohibition goes into effect now it will be useless,” he pointed out.
ABr – www.radiobras.gov.br