Guardian, Chr. Sci. Monitor, Wires, etc: Brazil’s forest ministers say Amazon burning, clearing is plummeting…
What’s this? Stories spurred by what looks like good news from Brazil’s Amazon about the rate of deforestation? In advance of next month’s post-Kyoto summit meeting in Copenhagen, Brazil’s President Lula and his ministers proclaimed a 45 percent reduction in the rate at which the trees are being felled and burned – or hauled away as timber.
The Christian Science Monitor‘s correspondent Andrew Downie, filing from Sao Paulo, reports that the rate is the lowest in 20 years. Hmmm. Twenty years ago was 1989. That’s the year The Tracker went to the area to cover what was already, then, regarded as an ongoing catastrophe of rainforest destruction. That’s where I first met Andy Revkin, now at the NYTimes, covering the same general news. So, such numbers have to be seen in proportion. Better does not always mean good. But better is better than the alternative. And Lula’s government has vowed to cut the rate much further. Downie, as one sees by going through the following bullets, had at least two customers for his reporting.
Other Stories:
- BBC – Gary Duffy: from Sao Paulo – Amazon deforestation ‘record low’ ; One source gives credit to the global recession, not Brazilian policy, for the reduction ;
- AP – Marco Sibaja: from Brasilia: Brazil: Deforestation sees biggest drop in 20 yrs ;
- AFP: Brasilia - Fewer trees cut down in Amazon ;
- ABC (Australia) Richard Reynolds: info credited to Brazil’s space agency - Amazon deforestation at record low ;
- Guardian (UK) Tom Phillips, filed from Rio: Brazil celebrates 45% reduction in Amazon deforestation ;
- Telegraph (UK) Andrew Downie : Brazil deforestation drops to lowest level since 1980s. Mr. Downie, one notes, filed for the CSMonitor too. but good for him – same facts but he wrote distinctly different pieces for the two clients.
- Reuters – Natuza Nery, Ana Paula Paiva: Filed from Brasilia, Brazil say amazon deforestation slowest in 21 years ;
Pic: What it looked like in 1988. Source Guardian ;
- Charlie Petit
