Brazzil

any statement reguarding the brazilian amazon should be made with respect to the government and the brazilian people

there was a report in the news of this swiss guy trying to get people to buy huge parts of the amazon to "protect" it...then they found out he was cutting trees on his land he owned in the amazon... what a deception...

with reports like that, you just cant trust anyone

anyone who wants to really protect the amazon better take care of the people living there so they dont have to do things to get money for survival

cow farts and methane gas from rice production affect global warming as much as anything, if they dont address that too, its just posturing lies

Well said!

Costinha

A decent article on this site...

Asp well said, Gore needs to mind his own business from now on, and respect the fact that the Amazon belongs to Brazil. I have to say, I don't agree with what has been going on recently in terms of environmental protection and sustainable growth (this is another matter still in debate in Natural Resources Management), however what Brazil needs is sound policy paired with strong science. Policy needs to concentrate on alternative economic opportunities and the results of scientific studies have to reach the masses.

At my job, we see the US government spend millions of dollars doing environmental restoration of prairie, wetlands and coastal areas. Restoration can never achieve 100% results, and if not done correctly can cause more harm than good. Land owners could benefit from conservation easements, where they get tax benefits for protection all or certain portions of land (In Brazil RPPNs used to be taxed at higher rate if they had more than 20% canopy coverage, nowadays that has changed).

There are theories out there, especially from the environmental economics point of view, that economic development and sustainability are at odds. Also that are other views that are more anthropocentric, thus the carrying capacity theory is rejected.

Either way, when true anthropocentric values are taken into consideration, man usually tries to "protect" if you will, nature. Its dependency on ecosystem value, creates environmental policies that are geared towards a more sustainable land/nature practice. Whatever is going on in Brazil is the opposite of both theories, as the author points out, illegal land titles are just the tip of the iceberg.

I believe that Brazil can find a solution. We have great biologists, ecologists, theorists that are willing to jump in and help. What is needed is transparency from the Brazilian government.

So true !
And Bin the Crook even expects developed nations to pay the bill with his lies.