Losing the Amazon Rainforest

Brazil is suffering from the activities of illegal squatters in areas of the rainforest, who have been responsible for a 29% increase in deforestation during 2016.  There seems no solution to this problem, as many of the offenders register land under false names to avoid prosecution.  Activities such as cattle production and mining increasingly compete for land which had been part of this valuable resource. 

​ Each year, Brazilian beef producers incur large fines from government prosecutors  (around $300 million in 2013) - for buying cattle which has been illegally raised on Amazon rainforest land.  Still this continues.  The president of Brazil in June this year has blocked the deregulation of part of the Amazon rainforest - but this is a small step, which needs to be followed by more positive action to protect what is a third of the world's rainforests, just under 3 million square kilometres, and one of the most beautiful lands on earth.   These rainforests are also home to about half of the species of plants and wildlife on earth.

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