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| Brazil Amazon destruction slows | Brazil Amazon destruction slows |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has welcomed new figures showing that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has decreased by 25%. | Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has welcomed new figures showing that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has decreased by 25%. |
| President Lula said this had prevented the release of millions of tonnes of CO2 gas into the atmosphere. | President Lula said this had prevented the release of millions of tonnes of CO2 gas into the atmosphere. |
| The government says environmental policies, including measures against illegal logging, have had an effect. | The government says environmental policies, including measures against illegal logging, have had an effect. |
| Environmentalists welcomed the figures, but said falling commodity prices and economic conditions were also a factor. | Environmentalists welcomed the figures, but said falling commodity prices and economic conditions were also a factor. |
| 'Sustainable growth' | 'Sustainable growth' |
| In his weekly radio address, President Lula said the new figures showed that protecting the environment and the Amazon would not prevent Brazil from increasing its land under cultivation. | In his weekly radio address, President Lula said the new figures showed that protecting the environment and the Amazon would not prevent Brazil from increasing its land under cultivation. |
| The challenge that we have overcome is knowing how to use the jungle and how to preserve the environment while allowing people's lives to be improved President Lula | The challenge that we have overcome is knowing how to use the jungle and how to preserve the environment while allowing people's lives to be improved President Lula |
| "I'm convinced that it's possible to have growth while preserving the environment," he said. | "I'm convinced that it's possible to have growth while preserving the environment," he said. |
| "The challenge that we have overcome is knowing how to use the jungle and how to preserve the environment while allowing people's lives to be improved." | "The challenge that we have overcome is knowing how to use the jungle and how to preserve the environment while allowing people's lives to be improved." |
| The figures suggest that between August 2005 and July 2006, deforestation in the Amazon fell by 25%, to the lowest rate since at least 2000. | The figures suggest that between August 2005 and July 2006, deforestation in the Amazon fell by 25%, to the lowest rate since at least 2000. |
| Brazil releases about 1 billion tonnes of CO2 gases into the atmosphere every year, more than 75% of which are caused by deforestation. | Brazil releases about 1 billion tonnes of CO2 gases into the atmosphere every year, more than 75% of which are caused by deforestation. |
| Commodity issue | Commodity issue |
| President Lula said the drop in deforestation had prevented the release of 410m tonnes of greenhouse gases and the destruction of 600,000 trees. | President Lula said the drop in deforestation had prevented the release of 410m tonnes of greenhouse gases and the destruction of 600,000 trees. |
| The president clearly believes it is possible to reconcile the objectives of economic growth and protecting the environment, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Brazil. | |
| But Paulo Moutinho, co-ordinator at the Environmental Research Institute of the Amazon, told Reuters news agency that rising commodity prices this year could fuel renewed destruction. | But Paulo Moutinho, co-ordinator at the Environmental Research Institute of the Amazon, told Reuters news agency that rising commodity prices this year could fuel renewed destruction. |
| "Awareness and policies improved in the federal and state governments, but the real test is if rates fall during a commodity price rally," Mr Moutinho said. | "Awareness and policies improved in the federal and state governments, but the real test is if rates fall during a commodity price rally," Mr Moutinho said. |
| If the price of crops such as soya were to continue rising, the destruction of the rainforest could grow again, our correspondent says. | If the price of crops such as soya were to continue rising, the destruction of the rainforest could grow again, our correspondent says. |
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