Ana Paula Marra
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – Yesterday president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed into law a bill that regulates the sustainable exploitation of public forests by permitting concessionaires to use them while the government retains ownership. Speaking at the ceremony celebrating the signing, Lula said the bill "allies development with sustainability." He added that the new law would certainly be of enormous benefit to the Amazon region where 75% of the land is owned by the government (nationwide the percentage is 60%).

Under the law, 20% of all revenue from land use under the new law must go to the Brazilian Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Institute (Ibama).

Translation: Allen Bennett