The major rate of recent deforestation has taken place in Brazil, which represents 80% when taken into account the world natural forests. In 2001 the Amazon already had lost 13% of its original extent, it is equivalent of an area similar to Germany and France.
The rates had drop from mid 2006 to mid 2007 but in 2008 the data form the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research showed an increase of rainforest area destroyed.
Deforestation main causes are cattle ranching, Soya production and illegal logging. Those activities are all related to the lack of options given for the local population. Most of the people living around or into the rainforest do not have other way to make their living.
For this population the choice of damaging the rainforest is not even taken into consideration, as they don’t see another way of survival, the families do what is needed in order to subsist.
Brazilian government has a number of laws to preserve the Amazon but it is not enough nor efficient. The families depending on the forest need to make a living. Crops and cattle are taking over the rainforest and families in the area are getting jobs, selling their lands and dreaming about that a better life will come out of it.
Deforestations rates are getting bigger due to the demand for Soya and cattle pasture, main activities at some States where the rainforest is located.
As a result of Brazilian economic dynamics nowadays the rates of deforestation start to increase again. It’s time to give other choices of development and a minimum life quality to the population living from the rainforest, it is the only way to save the forest.
