Serious new threat to Brazilian forests

Nazareno, Alison G., Feres, Juliana M., de Carvalho, Dulcineia, Sebbenn, Alexandre M., Lovejoy, Thomas E., and Laurance, William F. (2012) Serious new threat to Brazilian forests. Conservation Biology, 26 (1). pp. 5-6.

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Abstract

[Extract] Brazil's Forest Code was enacted in 1965 and protects forests in certain locations, such as along rivers and on steep slopes and hilltops. It is the only legislation in the world that requires private rural landowners to retain reserves of natural vegetation. In the Atlantic Rainforest, the Forest Code states that 20% of a property has to remain in reserve whereas in the Amazon forest this amount is 80%. However, an amended Forest Code was overwhelmingly approved in the lower House of the Brazilian legislature, and it seems likely that a version will be passed by the Senate and could be signed into law by the president. If passed, the new legislation may not only provide amnesty to those who illegally cleared forests in the past, but also greatly intensify the risk of future deforestation. The new law includes changes in forest protection that will allow for harvesting of legal reserves on private lands as well as reducing the proportion of a property that must be preserved (Metzger et al. 2010).

Item ID: 22607
Item Type: Article (Commentary)
ISSN: 1523-1739
Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2012 09:41
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960899 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity of Environments not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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