Brazil is planning on the formation of a donation based fund to prevent deforestation in the region. It is looking for $1 billion/year (total) from industrialized countries and corporations. Contributors will not be eligible for carbon credits through donation by avoiding deforestation. It is estimated that it would cost as much as $600 million/year to achieve a “near-zero” deforestation rate in Brazil over the next decade.

http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0224-brazil.html

In other news (related to my previous weeks post) the town of Tailandia was enraged by the confiscation of illegally harvested amazonian lumber. The town burned tires and blocked roads to keep environmental officials out. The riot was caused by townspeople and loggers enraged by the confiscation of 500 truckloads of wood that will take 3 weeks to truck out of the small town. This confiscation is part of a larger effort by the state to negate the rise of illegal logging through confiscations of illegal wood, and auditing of sawmills selling illegal wood. Environmentalists say increased demand for agricultural products, particularly soy and beef, has prompted farmers to raze rain forest to gain land for fields and pastures. Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter, and second to the US in soy exports.

Mr Lula insists his government is taking illegal deforestation seriously, but said no-one could be blamed for the increase until investigations were concluded.

Other measures announced last month include a ban on new logging permits, fines for people who buy anything produced on illegally deforested land and the forcing of thousands of farms to re-register to ensure they do not sit on illegally cleared land.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/500-trucks–of-illegal.3810470.jp