Sometimes I wonder how people can be so short-sighted. BBC News has reported as follows:
The environment ministry said 26,000 sq km of forest were chopped down in the 12 months prior to August 2004.
The figure is the second highest on record, 6% higher than the previous 12 months.
Deforestation was worst in the state of Mato Grosso where vast swathes of land have been cleared to grow crops.
…
The loss of 26,000 sq km means almost a fifth of the entire Amazon has now been chopped down.
All of this is in aid of boosting soya exports to levels that lead to a trade surplus. When will governments, particularly governments in the region, realise that eco-friendly developments are critical, especially when dealing with one of the most diverse eco-systems in the world, not to mention one of the biggest producers of oxygen.
(via BBC News)
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What do you think?