Brasília, June 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Currently, production, industrialization, and commercialization based on forest resources are responsible for around 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs in Brazil, as well as US$ 6.1 billion in revenues (2.6% of the GDP). The forest sector also contributes through the collection of over US$ 2 billion in taxes, and it is already the country's second largest industrial export sector. According to the most recent data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), in 2002 the sale of forest products abroad generated US$ 4.5 billion, surpassed only by the parts and vehicles sector, which attained US$ 6.6 billion.

Despite its economic importance, the forest sector has been facing barriers to production, mainly as a result of the lack of long-term policies to stimulate its growth. Based on this situation, approximately 50 Deputies from eight states decided to form the Congressional Forestry Front, to defend sustainable, rational use of replanted forests. The Front will be launched officially today, in Brasília. (DAS)