Posted on November, 15 2013

After several years of declining deforestation rates, the annual deforestation rate in Brazil has risen 28 percent. Forests are cleared for a variety of reasons including illegal mining and soy production. Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira emphasized the Government’s commitment to reverse increased deforestation and eliminate illegal logging in the Amazon. The deforested area is 5,843 square kilometres, with the states of Mato Grosso, Roraima, Maranhão, and Pará leading the surge. Mato Grosso saw the most forest clearing, an increase of 52 percent. Only three states out of 10 in the Brazilian Amazon – Acre, Amapá and Tocantins – registered a drop in deforestation relative to the previous 12 months.

Orignal article posted: 15.11.13   Updated: 23.01.14