Yara Aquino
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Data from the Ministry of Environment shows that over the last eleven months there has been a 50% drop in deforestation in the Amazon region. From August 2003 to July 2004, a total of 18,724 square kilometers were destroyed in the region. From August 2004 to June 2005, the area destroyed was 9,106 square kilometers.

"We have two monitoring systems and they show a downward tendency," explained minister of Environment, Marina Silva. She says the reason for less deforestation is the government's Action Plan for Amazon Deforestation Prevention and Control.

The action plan has been in operation since March 2004. It protects existing forests, promotes sound management of land that has been deforested, administers property rights, organizes infrastructure and exercises environmental control. Minister Silva points out that thirteen ministries, state authorities, the Federal Police, Ibama agents and Army troops all work together in implementing the plan and controlling desforestation in the region.

Translator: Allen Bennett