Brasília - The Environmental Protection Institute (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) (Ibama) is coordinating an operation on the borders of the states of Amazonas, Acre and Rondonia to combat burining, deforestation, commerce in lumber, traffic in wildlife and slave-type labor. A local Ibama official in Acre, Anselmo Forneck, says the operation is expected to reduce deforestation this year by 60%, compared to last year.

During the last three weeks the operation confiscated 1,500 cubic meters of lumber, 2,000 liters of fuel, 40 power saws, 2 trators and one truck. Inspectors have also apprehended a vast store of camping equipment.

Forneck says the project has been able to head off deforestation before it takes place, citing the case of an area of 5,000 hectares where 150 men had begun clearing the land when inspectors put an end to their efforts.

The operation is scheduled to continue until December. The problem is to find ways to halt the advance of soy and cattle farming. "Deforestation began here in 2001. It has already destroyed 4% of the region," says Forneck.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Bianca Estrella
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/16/2004