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Brazilian land use reform vote this month
05/07/2010
Reforms to Brazil’s forestry code are due to be voted on this month, which could see major changes made to land use regulation and deforestation policies.
The forestry code – first enacted in 1965 – currently sets strict limits on land use and is widely regarded as one of the strongest environmental laws in the world. Landowners must keep 80 per cent of their land in its natural state in the Amazon, 35 per cent in the savanna terrain and 20 per cent in the coastal Atlantic Forest.
The Brazilian agricultural lobby, known as the Ruralistas, have been pushing for reform for years, labeling the current rules as economically stifling and claiming that make many agriculturalists and indigenous subsistence farmers “environmental criminals”.
Eleven key changes to the code would include allowing federal states to determine land use limits; allowing landowners to cultivate larger areas of land; and offering an "amnesty" to landowners who have already been fined for illegal deforestation.
Environmentalists are furious, however, claiming that the new legislation could in theory see up to 80 per cent of the Amazon cut down, leading lead to carbon emissions of 25-31 billion tonnes from the Amazon alone.
The Green lobby is seeking for the vote to be postponed until next year, when they claim a fairer vote could be held, but it is expected that the Ruralistas will push the vote through next week.
The forestry code – first enacted in 1965 – currently sets strict limits on land use and is widely regarded as one of the strongest environmental laws in the world. Landowners must keep 80 per cent of their land in its natural state in the Amazon, 35 per cent in the savanna terrain and 20 per cent in the coastal Atlantic Forest.
The Brazilian agricultural lobby, known as the Ruralistas, have been pushing for reform for years, labeling the current rules as economically stifling and claiming that make many agriculturalists and indigenous subsistence farmers “environmental criminals”.
Eleven key changes to the code would include allowing federal states to determine land use limits; allowing landowners to cultivate larger areas of land; and offering an "amnesty" to landowners who have already been fined for illegal deforestation.
Environmentalists are furious, however, claiming that the new legislation could in theory see up to 80 per cent of the Amazon cut down, leading lead to carbon emissions of 25-31 billion tonnes from the Amazon alone.
The Green lobby is seeking for the vote to be postponed until next year, when they claim a fairer vote could be held, but it is expected that the Ruralistas will push the vote through next week.
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