Amazon deforestation on the increase as Brazil prepares to relax forest code

The fires of controversy over deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon were rekindled earlier this month following a government claim that the rate of deforestation has fallen by 44 per cent.

Deforestation declined between April and May 2011, according to satellite images analysed by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The data show an estimated 267.9 km2 of forest was cleared in May, compared with 480 km2 in April. A government statement was published on 1 July under a headline saying: “Amazon deforestation data shows 44 per cent decline.”