Brazilian government releases data on Atlantic Forest deforestation

Deforestation in the Atlantic Forest between 2002 and 2008 totaled 2,700 square kilometers, at an average of 457 square kilometers per year, according to data from the Center for Remote Sensoring at the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA), the body responsible for monitoring and investigating environmental crimes. It was only possible to come up with these numbers because the Brazilian government expanded satellite monitoring of deforestation from the Amazon to every Brazilian biome.

"Based on such data, planning for action becomes more efficient. The goal is to reduce deforestation by as much as possible, especially in the most threatened biomes in the country", said Bráulio Dias, Secretary of Biodiversity and Forests at the Ministry of the Environment. In the case of the Atlantic Forest, action will be based on a program to be announced in 2011 which will set out the rules for conservation and recovery of the forest.

In 2010 the Ministry of the Environment published a Best Practices Manual for the Atlantic Forest, following the principles of the Atlantic Forest Law, which came into force in 2006, and 2008's Atlantic Forest Decree. In summary, the law only allows the selective use of the Atlantic Forest and bans any form of deforestation.

Agreement

The Satellite Monitoring of Deforestation in Brazilian Biomes Project is feasible thanks to the Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Brazilian government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This agreement guarantees the quantification of deforestation in areas with native vegetation and will support the investigation and combat of illegal deforestation.

The first biome to have its data published within the project was the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), of which deforestation data were released in September 2009, covering the period 2002-2008. Since then, the Caatinga, Pantanal and Pampa have also had their data made available. The information on the deforested area monitored in each biome will also provide data related to greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: Portal Brazil