Brazil will Privatize Parts of the Amazon Rainforest

September 25, 2007

Marina Silva the Brazilian Environment Minister has announced that Brazil will allow for private management of 220,000 hectares of forest. This will be from the Jamari National Forest that is in northern Brazil in the state of Rondonia. Ninety thousand hectares will be auctioned off on October 31, 2007. The winning bidders will be able to use the land for 40 years. The companies will be able to use the timber and must use environmentally sustainable techniques.

There is a law that prohibits the removal of flora, fauna, water or mineral resources from the forest. The government is justifying the move as it said that deforestation rates in the Jamri National Forest have increased, and private management might help.

One must remember that there is more to the forest than just trees. There are animals and plant species that will be eradicated as well. While a private company may replace the trees they cut down, they cannot replace the animals that lost their homes when the trees were cut.