Brazil Task Force to Assess Atlantic Rainforest Deforestation
8/4/98
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Title: Brazil Task Force to Assess Atlantic Rainforest Deforestation
Source: Reuters
Status: Copyrighted, contact source to reprint
Date: 8/4/98
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Brazilian police teamed up with
environmentalists on Tuesday to assess and prevent damage to the Mata
Atlantica, a coastal rain forest that once stretched from Rio to the mouth of
the Amazon.
The governments environment agency, Ibama, joined forces with the military
police and State Forests Institute in a 35-day project to locate the areas
worst deforestation, Ibama officials said.
``It is starting today and the objective is to censure hunting, fishing and
all types of deforestation,'' said Aurelio Araujo from Ibamas Rio office.
The project, named ``Operation Atlantica,'' involves more than 120 people who
will work on 22 teams. They will cover five regions and comb the forest using
jeeps, launches and helicopters, he said.
``The operation will search for deforesting activities, fishing and illegal
trading in forest products and wild animals,'' Ibama said in a statement.
``This combined effort is happening just when the new law on environmental
crimes is in force.''
Brazil introduced a new environmental law in February, setting fines of up to
$50 million and jail sentences for crimes ranging from illegal logging and
killing wild animals to industrial pollution and graffiti.
The Mata Atlantica is home to many unique plant and animal species and one of
the most threatened ecosystems in the world, environmental observers say.
It has disappeared more than twice as fast as the Amazon rain forest and is
threatened by rapid urban development, extensive farming and the creation of
eucalyptus plantations for the paper industry.
The Atlantic rain forest once covered 12 percent of Brazilian territory, but
now covers less than 1 percent.
Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited.