Illegal logging in the Amazon
Image source: daylife.com
A piece in The Guardian today reports on the recent escalation of deforestation in the Amazon. The dramatic increase (up 64% in the last year) suggests that with commodity prices hitting historic highs, the financial gains from illegal logging are proving too lucrative to stay on the right side of the law. These latest statistics have understandably caused some controversy in Brazil but, frankly, this is not a Brazilian issue alone. An area half the size of Wales was cleared in the 12 months to August, which reduces the already damaged ‘lung capacity’ of the earth. Is this issue not sufficiently important to provide international assistance to the Brazilian authorities to prevent illegal logging?
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