Agencia Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – The Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, affirmed Monday (17) that it is possible to double Amazon’s agricultural production without causing any deforestation. According to the Minister, there are already about 160 thousand kilometers of abandoned agricultural areas in the region that may be reused.

"This is a program that needs to be implemented, to be supported even with some type of incentive", said Marina Silva.

According to the Minister, forest supervision, performed by the Ministry of Environment along with 12 other ministries, may reduce Brazilian deforestation even more than what was registered last year, when there was a 31% reduction.

Marina Silva participated this Monday (17), in Rio de Janeiro, along with the Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, in the opening ceremony of a center of culture and environment located at the Botanic Garden.

Translation: Andréa Alves