Manaus, 25 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Amazon Vigilance System is part of a strategic plan to protect Amazon flora and fauna. The Amazon has the world's greatest variety of animal and vegetable life and plays a key role in the planet's weather and ecological equilibrium. The Amazon covers 61% of Brazil's total territory, contain one-third of all the forests in the world and 30% of all biodiversity which has been cataloged. It also contains the world's biggest amount of fresh water.

In the recent past the Amazon has undergone serious problems, such as inadequate human occupation resulting in predatory farming, reduction of biodiversity, illegal lumbering and environmental degradation. Urban areas in the Amazon have had trouble with population concentrations, deterioration of health services and reduced levels of human well-being. (AB)